[Ralph Douglas Kenneth Reye (1912–1977), director of pathology of the Royal Alexandra Hospital for Children in Sydney, Australia]

= hepatitis + encephalitis following viral upper respiratory tract infection with history of large doses of aspirin ingestion

Age: in children + young adults

• obtundation rapidly progressing to coma
• initially (within 2–3 days) small ventricles
• later progressive enlargement of lateral ventricles + sulci
• markedly diminished attenuation of white matter

Mortality: 15–85% (from white matter edema + demyelination)

Dx: liver biopsy