Antipyretic effect of indomethacin in malignant lymphoma

Fifteen patients with lymphoid malignancies and tumour-related fever (greater than 38.0 degrees C) were given 50 mg indomethacin (IM) orally. This resulted in a reduction of body temperature in all cases (mean +/- SD 3.4 +/- 2.0 degrees C). In one patient with untreated Hodgkin's disease, temperature fell from 40.6 degrees C to 30.6 degrees C within 12 hours without any cardiovascular or respiratory distress. The lytic effect of IM on fever was more pronounced and more rapid in the 15 patients with lymphoma than in a group of 10 patients with acute myocardial infarction. IM therapy has a clear value in relieving tumour-associated fever in patients with malignant lymphoma. There may be a qualitative difference between the IM response of tumour-related fever and fever related to non-malignant diseases.