[Zieve's syndrome and acute alcoholic hepatitis (author's transl)]

Zieve's syndrome, characterized by jaundice, hyperlipaemia and haemolytic anaemia, usually develops in young, chronically alcoholic subjects with enlarged fatty liver. Hitherto, the course of the disease was considered favourable in most patients, with complete regression of clinical, biological and anatomical symptoms. However, the discovery of acute alcoholic hepatitis during repeat needle-biopsy of the liver confirms that in some cases steatosis may mask hyaline necrosis and neutrophil infiltration. Zieve's syndrome therefore is not benign but precedes acute alcoholic hepatitis episodes on a normal, fibrotic or cirrhotic liver.