Immunopharmacological considerations in Reye's syndrome: a possible xenobiotic initiated disorder?

Depression of oxidative metabolism of aspirin in mice via an interferon-associated mechanism in relation to Reye's syndrome

Interferon synthesis was induced in inbred strains of mice with either polyriboinosinic-polyribocytidylic acid or Newcastle disease virus. The strains, BALB/cBy and C57BL/6By, respond to Newcastle disease virus by producing 'low' and 'high' levels of serum interferon, respectively. 24 h after interferon induction mice received [carboxyl-14C]-aspirin orally. The metabolic conjugation of aspirin was little changed after either treatment while the urinary excretion of gentisic acid, a minor product of metabolic oxidation, was significantly depressed after polyriboinosinic-polyribocytidylic acid in both strains and in C57BL/6By mice after Newcastle disease virus. The results suggest that such a metabolic impairment in aspirin metabolism would not significantly affect salicylate clearance and hence are unlikely to be directly related to the aetiology of Reye's syndrome which has been associated with both a prodromal viral infection and aspirin therapy.

Aflatoxin and Reye's syndrome: a study of livers from deceased cases

In order to reinvestigate a strong reported association, we attempted to identify aflatoxin in the livers of 12 children who presumably died of Reye's Syndrome and in the liver of one child who died accidentally. Aflatoxins were detected, but not confirmed in only one of the liver specimens (limits of detection 20 ppt). In addition, the microscopic appearance of the livers was reviewed. Although most of the cases fit the clinical definition of Reye's Syndrome, the microscopic appearance of the liver was varied. We conclude that aflatoxin is not regularly recoverable from cases of Reye's Syndrome at a high rate, and question the proposed etiologic relationship. We confirm the varied appearance of the liver late in the course of Reye's Syndrome; however, microvesicular fat was present in most cases.