[Zieve's syndrome. A case report].

We report a case of Zieve's Syndrome that developed after an important alcohol consumption in a 32-yr-old female patient. She was admitted to the hospital with anorexia, asthenia and jaundice. Physical examination showed liver stigmata and hepatomegaly. Laboratory tests demonstrated increased aminotransferase levels, hyperbilirubinemia, hyperlipidemia and normocytic and normochromic anemia with dianocytes in peripheral blood smear. Ultrasonography showed a hyperechoic liver and a liver biopsy showed acute and chronic alcoholic liver disease. Clinical evolution was satisfactory and the therapy consisted of blood transfusion, parenteral fluids, B-complex vitamin and a fatty free diet. Jaundice, hyperlipidemia and haemolytic anemia define Zieve's Syndrome (Z.S.) There is a pathogenetic relationship among the clinical and biological phenomena in this syndrome, whose starter is an acute alcohol intake. Haemolysis is the distinctive feature with respect to the classical acute alcoholic hepatitis, and it is due to erythrocyte's metabolic and osmotic instability in relation to lipids abnormalities. Its clinical resolution precedes the normalization of serum lipids levels. Therapy is similar to that for acute alcoholic hepatitis although sometimes the anemia requires blood transfusion.