Reye syndrome

Description

• What is the actual eponymous medical sign/syndrome/repair/classification…

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History

1929 – First recorded

1963 – Reye, Morgan and Baral published in Lancet

1964 – George Johnson published after Influenza B outbreak

1979 – Starko et al statistically-significant link between aspirin use and Reye syndrome

1980 – CDC cautioned physicians and parents about the association between Reye syndrome and the use of salicylates in children and teenagers with chickenpox or virus-like illnesses

1986 – FDA warning label for aspirin-containing medications

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Associated Persons

• Ralph Douglas Kenneth Reye (1912-1977)

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Alternative names

• Reye’s syndrome
• Reye-Johnson syndrome

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References

Original articles

• Reye RD, Morgan G, Baral J. Encephalopathy and fatty degeneration of the viscera. A Disease entity in childhood. Lancet. 1963 Oct 12;2(7311):749-52.
• Johnson GM, Scurletis TD, Carroll NB: A study of sixteen fatal cases of encephalitis-like disease in North Carolina children. N C Med J. 1963 Oct;24:464-73

Review articles

• Starko KM, Ray CG, Dominguez LB, Stromberg WL, Woodall DF. Reye’s syndrome and salicylate use. Pediatrics. 1980 Dec;66(6):859-64
• Aspirin and Reye syndrome. Committee on Infectious Diseases. Pediatrics. 1982 Jun;69(6):810-2
• Mowat AP. Reye’s syndrome: 20 years on. Br Med J (Clin Res Ed). 1983 Jun 25;286(6383):1999-2001.
• Orlowski JP. Reye’s Syndrome — A Modern Medical Mystery. In: Prakash O. (eds) Critical Care of the Child. Developments in Critical Care Medicine and Anesthesiology. 1984;8:115-125. Springer, Dordrecht

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