Endotoxaemia as a cause of fever in immunosuppressed patients. Issue 4 (April 1984)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Harris, R I; Stone, P C; Evans, G R; Stuart, J
• Is Part Of: Journal of clinical pathology. Volume 37:Issue 4(1984)
• Page Start: 467
• Page End: 470
• Publication Date: 1984-04
• Subjects: Pathology -- Periodicals; Pathology, Molecular -- Periodicals; 616.0705
• DOI: 10.1136/jcp.37.4.467
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0021-9746

Abstract

Abstract : Using a recently developed chromogenic substrate assay sensitive to 10 pg/ml Escherichia coli endotoxin in plasma, systemic endotoxaemia was found in 52% of 21 episodes of fever in patients with a haematological malignancy who were infected. Endotoxaemia was also found in 27% of 22 episodes of fever of unknown origin. In 45 afebrile patients neither neutropenia nor cytotoxic chemotherapy was a cause of endotoxaemia. Passage of endotoxin from portal blood into the systemic circulation can contribute to unexplained fever in immunosuppressed patients.