1929年 Brain 氏发现小儿期有一种急性脑病,起病急,病因不明,死亡率高,和一般中毒性脑病不同,死后尸检有明显的内脏脂肪变性及脑水肿,当时报导为脑膜脑脊髓炎。1963年 Reye 等报导21例病人,临床表现为一组新的综合征:起病急,发病前有轻微的呼吸道或消化道症状,好转数天或1～2周后突然出现昏迷,惊厥,多数于入院后两天半内死亡。肝脏活检及尸检均显示肝脏、肾脏、心肌等内脏脂肪变性及脑水肿。 1929 Brain found that there is an acute encephalopathy in infancy, acute onset, etiology, high mortality, and general toxic encephalopathy is different from post-mortem autopsy obvious visceral steatosis and cerebral edema, was reported as meningeal encephalomyelitis . 1963 Reye et al reported 21 patients, the clinical manifestations of a new syndrome: acute onset, mild respiratory or gastrointestinal symptoms before onset, improvement in a few days or 1 to 2 weeks after a sudden coma, convulsions, the majority Died within two and a half days after admission. Liver biopsy and autopsy showed liver, kidney, myocardial visceral steatosis and cerebral edema.