Comparison of data based publications regarding development of neurogenic fever
| Study | Subjects/number | Findings | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|
| Benedek et al26 | Mixed population: Cranial trauma (n=6) and brain surgery (n=5) | Central medial forebrain involved in all cases. Indomethacin reduced fever in 10/11 patients | First 24 hours post-injury. Likely secondary fever from IL-1 release, not neurogenic fever |
| Meythaler and Stinson1 | Severe TBI (n=3) | Initial GCS ⩽4, prolonged coma in all cases. Intraventricular haemorrhage present in 2/3 cases | Case reports. Propranolol was used successfully for treatment |
| Whyte et al11 | Severe TBI patient (n=1) | Patient with known NF in acute post-injury phase had chronic thermoregulatory deficits 3 years post-injury. Basilar skull fracture, brain stem injury, prolonged coma | Case report |
| Childers et al2 | TBI patients admitted to rehabiliation unit within 45 days of injury (n=84) | Incidence: 4% in this population | Retrospective study focused on incidence. Used algorithmic approach to determine presence of NF |
| Clinchot et al3 | Mixed brain injured population (n=286) on rehabilitation unit, TBI (n=226) | Unexplained fever occurred in 7% of TBI patients during rehabilitation stay | Retrospective study focused on incidence of fever and determining aetiology |
| Sazbon and Grosswasser4 | TBI patients in prolonged coma (>1 month) (n=134) | Presence of NF within first week following injury was significant for predicting non-recovery | Retrospective study |
| Heindl and Laub24 | Mixed population of children: TBI (n=82) and hypoxic brain injury (n=45) | Neurogenic fever in patients with TBI was correlated with lower Barthel Index scores at 19 month follow up | Retrospective enrolment |
| Thompson et al | TBI patients (n=76) | DAI and frontal lobe injury are independently predictive, skull fracture and lower GCS are individually predictive of development of NF | Retrospective study. Developed predictive model |