Alcohol-associated haemolysis in Zieve's syndrome: a clinical and laboratory study of five cases

In 1958 Zieve described a syndrome of jaundice, hyperlipidaemia, and transient haemolytic anaemia associated with alcohol abuse. The clinical and laboratory features of five cases are reviewed. All patients presented with acute abdominal pain and fever. Four had a history of a recent alcohol binge. Hyperlipidaemia was present in two patients; this subsided before the onset of haemolysis. The red cells showed features of an acquired pyruvate kinase deficiency: an increased autohaemolysis with only partial correction with glucose, low red cell ATP, and instability of pyruvate kinase when haemolysate was heated to 55 degrees C. These changes were not observed in a control group of chronic alcoholics without haemolysis.