Zieve’s syndrome is a complication of chronically high alcohol consumption and often develops after periods of drinking a lot of alcohol in a short period of time. It’s characterized by three signs.
Zieve’s syndrome was first described by Dr. Leslie Zieve in the 1950s. It’s a collection of three signs that develop in people with alcohol-induced liver injury. These signs include:
- jaundice
- hemolytic anemia (a low red blood cell count)
- hyperlipidemia (high levels of fat in your blood)
People with Zieve’s syndrome often have an improvement in their symptoms after completely stopping their alcohol consumption.
Let’s look at Zieve’s syndrome in more detail, including what causes it, symptoms, and treatments.
A syndrome is a collection of signs and symptoms that commonly occur together. The development of Zieve’s syndrome is
It’s not clear why hemolytic anemia and hyperlipidemia develop in people with Zieve’s syndrome.
Some research suggests that changes to the membrane of your red blood cells
Hyperlipidemia
Zieve’s syndrome is associated with alcohol-related liver disease. Risk factors for alcohol-related liver disease include:
- consuming more than
14 drinks per week for males or having more than 4 drinks at a time - consuming more than 7 drinks per week for females and people over 65, or having more than 3 drinks at a time
Daily consumption of
Cirrhosis occurs in
Zieve’s syndrome is characterized by:
People with Zieve’s syndrome may initially have
- abdominal pain
- nausea
- vomiting
- malaise
- low grade fever
Hyperlipidemia often doesn’t cause noticeable symptoms.
Jaundice is characterized by:
- yellow skin and eye whites
- dark or brown urine
- pale or clay-colored stools
- itchy skin
Hemolytic anemia might cause:
- sudden and severe pain in your abdomen
- fever
- jaundice
- diarrhea
Developing Zieve’s syndrome is a potential warning sign that you’re at risk for severe cirrhosis and liver disease. Cirrhosis can lead to liver failure, which is when your liver can no longer perform its normal functions adequately.
A liver transplant is often the only cure for chronic liver failure.
It’s important to contact a healthcare professional right away if you develop signs of jaundice like yellowing of your skin and eyes. Jaundice is often a sign of liver disease.
Other signs that should prompt an immediate visit to a doctor include:
- unexplained fatigue
- abdominal pain
- atypical paleness
- itchy skin
More than
Doctors can usually establish a diagnosis with:
- a review of your personal and family medical history
- a review of your symptoms
- the results of a physical exam
blood tests to look for elevated markers in your blood, such as:- bilirubin
- alkaline phosphatase
- gamma-glutamyl
- lactate dehydrogenase
- reticulocytes (immature red blood cells)
A bone marrow biopsy may be performed in some cases.
Zieve’s syndrome is primarily treated by completely stopping alcohol consumption.
When Dr. Zieve first described the condition in the 1950s, he noticed people had spontaneous resolution of their symptoms when they quit alcohol.
You may also receive
Plasmapheresis may be considered
Most people with Zieve’s syndrome seem to recover completely within
If you don’t quit drinking, you may have a chance of severe liver damage that can be life threatening. Quitting is often difficult, but a doctor can help build a cessation plan that works for you.
The best way to prevent Zieve’s syndrome is by consuming alcohol only in moderation and avoiding overconsumption.
To reduce the risk of alcohol-related disease, the
- males consume no more than 2 drinks per day
- females consume no more than 1 drink per day
They also don’t recommend starting to consume alcohol if you don’t currently drink. Their stance is that drinking less is always better for your health than drinking more.
Zieve’s syndrome is characterized by three signs: jaundice, hemolytic anemia, and hyperlipemia. It usually improves once you quit drinking alcohol. Continuing to drink may put you at risk of severe liver disease that can be life threatening.