Disturbances of the hypothalamic thermoregulation

Although compression of the hypothalamus in cases of suprasellar tumour is common, spontaneous dysregulation of body temperature is extremely rare. Bilateral localization of the hypothalamic nuclei and a high grade of compensatory value of temperature regulation may be the reason for this phenomenon. In the postoperative period temperature dysregulation is observed more often. In order to analyse the influence of diencephalic regulation in these patients classification of the degree of hypothalamic compression is necessary. The problem was studied under experimental and clinical conditions. Experimental studies in rabbits after acute hypothalamic compression and decompression showed a reversible disturbances of temperature regulation. Hypothalamic compression in dogs resulted in reversible hypothalamic endocrine dysfunction. Clinical observations of body temperature in the period after operation of suprasellar tumors showed similar results. The temperature study was extended on patients with cerebral trauma and intracranial haemorrhage to differentiate the degree of hypothalamic lesion. Morphological examinations confirmed alterations localized in the anterior and posterior region of the hypothalamus. The analysis proved the fact that temperature regulation seems to be a highly sensitive parameter of diencephalic function.