Predictors and Impact of Fever After Subarachnoid Hemorrhage

Fever is associated with morbidity and mortality after subarachnoid hemorrhage, but a cause-effect association has yet to be established.

To determine predictors of treatment-refractory fever and the relation between refractory fever and clinical outcome in patients with aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH), researchers analyzed data from 353 patients with SAH culled from a single-center, prospective database of consecutive SAH patients.

The authors defined refractory fever as a temperature elevation above 37°C (normal body temperature) despite treatment with acetaminophen and, when necessary, an external surface cooling device. They recorded at least seven daily-maximum temperatures for each patient. Admission predictors of refractory fever included high clinical grade (Hunt-Hess score, 3–5), presence of intraventricular blood, high radiographic grade (SAH sum score, ≥15)…

Reviewing Author

Joshua M. Levine, MD

Predictors and Impact of Fever After Subarachnoid Hemorrhage

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Reviewing Author