Mitochondrial Ultrastructure in Reye's Syndrome (Encephalopathy and Fatty Degeneration of the Viscera)

Electron microscopy was performed on liver-biopsy tissue obtained early in the evolution of Reye's syndrome and during recovery in an effort to identify the main site (or sites) of cell injury. Early in the course of encephalopathy, hepatocytes are universally affected by a process that results in mitochondrial swelling and pleomorphism as well as small-droplet triglyceride accumulation. During recovery, mitochondrial morphology improves in parallel with clinical improvement. A chemically mediated, potentially reversible mitochondrial injury may be instrumental in the evolution of Reye's syndrome.