A randomized trial of the effect of three non-steroid anti-inflammatory agents in ameliorating cancer-induced fever.
Paraneoplastic fever is well known, and is not an uncommon problem in daily practice. In an effort to ameliorate tumour-induced fever we randomized 48 patients to receive three different non-steroid anti-inflammatory drugs: Naproxen (500 mg d-1), Indomethacin (75 mg d-1) or Diclophenac sodium (75 mg d-1). All patients had solid tumours, and microbial infection had been excluded. All three drugs were equally effective in bringing the temperature down to normal for a period of 30-33 d. Naproxen had the most rapid effect. In cases of fever relapse with the first drug, when the other two drugs were given instead, both proved equally effective. No side-effects were observed. We conclude that Naproxen, Indomethacin and Diclophenac sodium are equally effective in ameliorating paraneoplastic fever. In relapse, a second drug given subsequently can be effective as well.
Tsavaris
N
N
Second Department of Medical Oncology, Metaxa Cancer Hospital, Piraeus, Greece.
Zinelis
A
A
Karabelis
A
A
Beldecos
D
D
Bacojanis
C
C
Milonacis
N
N
Karvounis
N
N
Kosmidis
P
P
D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004008:Diclofenac / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D005334:Fever / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D007213:Indomethacin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D009288:Naproxen / Q000627:therapeutic use; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000150:complications; D010257:Paraneoplastic Syndromes / Q000188:drug therapy*
D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D004008:Diclofenac; D009288:Naproxen; D007213:Indomethacin