Abstract
The body temperature, computed tomography (CT) findings, and vasospasm were observed in 40 patients affected by subarachnoid hemorrhage due to ruptured aneurysms. Thirteen patients (32.5%) had moderate fever between 37.5°C and 39°C or over 39°C beginning day 4 to 6 and lasting an average of 8.5 days. Delayed fever was observed with a greater statistical significance in the male patients, patients with consciousness disturbance on admission, and patients with intraventricular blood shown on CT within 24 hours after subarachnoid hemorrhage. Urinary catecholamines of 16 patients were measured by high-speed liquid chromatography. In the patients with intraventricular blood and fever, catecholamine values, especially noradrenaline, were markedly elevated. It is suggested that the delayed fever is not a simple meningeal sign but a sign of modulated fever control mechanism of the hypothalamus damaged by intraventricular bleeding.
