FEVER AND NORMAL SEDIMENTATION-RATE - 30 CASES

Thirty patients (19 females, 11 males), with a mean age of 42 +/- 21 y ears, who presented a fever associated whith a normal sedimentation ra te were prospectively studied, Mean fever duration at admission was 11 days (range: 1-90). Diagnosis included bacterial (12 cases) or viral (9 cases) infections, malaria (2 cases), systemic diseases (2 cases), abnormal temperature control (2 cases) and lymphoma (1 case). One pati ent simulated fever, and in the remaining case fever was of unknown or igin, Identified factors implied in the mechanisms of normal sedimenta tion rate were: intravascular disseminated coagulation (5 cases), haem olysis (5 cases), late increase of inflammatory proteins (8 cases), re d blood cell abnormalities (7 cases), cryoglobulinaemia (1 case). This study suggests that the striking association of fever and normal sedi mentation rate should lend clinicians to look for plasma and red bloo d cell abnormalities after ruling out a non inflammatory febrile disor der.