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Oka K, Tokumasu K, Hagiya H, Otsuka F. Characteristics of Functional Hyperthermia Detected in an Outpatient Clinic for Fever of Unknown Origin. J Clin Med 2024; 13:889. [PMID: 38337583 PMCID: PMC10856695 DOI: 10.3390/jcm13030889] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2024] [Revised: 01/31/2024] [Accepted: 02/01/2024] [Indexed: 02/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Background: Functional hyperthermia (FH) is characterized by hyperthermia resulting from sympathetic hyperactivity rather than inflammation, and it is frequently overlooked by medical practitioners due to the absence of abnormalities in a medical examination. Although FH is an important differential diagnosis for fever of unknown origin (FUO), the literature on FUO cases in Japan lacks information on FH. In this study, we aimed to uncover the population of FH patients hidden in FUO cases. Methods: An outpatient clinic for FUO was established at Okayama University Hospital, and 132 patients were examined during the period from May 2019 to February 2022. Results: A diagnosis of FH was made in 31.1% of the FUO cases, and FH predominantly affected individuals in their third and fourth decades of life with a higher incidence in females (68.3%). The frequency of a history of psychiatric illness was higher in patients with FH than in patients with other febrile illnesses. Although the C-reactive protein (CRP) is generally negative in FH cases, some obese patients, with a body mass index ≥ 25 had slightly elevated levels of CRP but were diagnosed with FH. Conclusions: The results showed the importance of identifying FH when encountering patients with FUO without any organic etiology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kosuke Oka
- Department of General Medicine, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama 700-8558, Japan; (K.T.); (F.O.)
| | - Kazuki Tokumasu
- Department of General Medicine, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama 700-8558, Japan; (K.T.); (F.O.)
| | - Hideharu Hagiya
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Okayama University Hospital, Okayama 700-8558, Japan;
| | - Fumio Otsuka
- Department of General Medicine, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama 700-8558, Japan; (K.T.); (F.O.)
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Okayama University Hospital, Okayama 700-8558, Japan;
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Imataki O, Uemura M. Psychogenic fever due to worry about COVID-19: A case report. Clin Case Rep 2021; 9:e04560. [PMID: 34429986 PMCID: PMC8365391 DOI: 10.1002/ccr3.4560] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2021] [Revised: 06/14/2021] [Accepted: 06/21/2021] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Psychogenic fever is stress-related hyperthermia that is recognized as a psychosomatic condition. We treated a 46-year-old Japanese man who was worrying about the coronavirus infection (COVID-19) and had a fever with a maximum temperature of 38.1℃. The patient was tested twice for SRAS-CoV-2 using polymerase chain reaction (PCR), but both tests were negative. All tests were negative for organic diseases, including infections, allergy/collagen diseases, endocrine disorders, malignancies, and drugs-induced conditions. The more he doubted the COVID-19 in him, the more he complained of the already known various symptoms, such as smelling disorder. The patient believed firmly that he had COVID-19 because PCR can be false negative. Finally, the patient was treated with the anxiolytic, loflazepate, at 4 mg/day. This treatment was highly effective. The patient's serum IL-6 was 1.1 pg/ml (≤4.0). The patient was diagnosed with psychogenic fever due to irrational worry over coronavirus. Such typical cases should be treated with an anxiolytic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Osamu Imataki
- Division of HematologyDepartment of Internal MedicineFaculty of MedicineKagawa UniversityKagawaJapan
| | - Makiko Uemura
- Division of HematologyDepartment of Internal MedicineFaculty of MedicineKagawa UniversityKagawaJapan
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Lkhagvasuren B, Oka T. The histaminergic system is involved in psychological stress-induced hyperthermia in rats. Physiol Rep 2018; 5:5/8/e13204. [PMID: 28438982 PMCID: PMC5408279 DOI: 10.14814/phy2.13204] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2016] [Revised: 02/19/2017] [Accepted: 02/20/2017] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
The histaminergic system modulates numerous physiological functions such as wakefulness, circadian rhythm, feeding, and thermoregulation. However, it is not yet known if this system is also involved in psychological stress-induced hyperthermia (PSH) and, if so, which histamine (H) receptor subtype mediates the effect. Therefore, we investigated the effects of pretreatments with intraperitoneal injections of mepyramine (an H1 receptor inverse agonist), cimetidine (an H2 receptor antagonist), and ciproxifan (an H3 receptor inverse agonist) on cage-exchange stress-induced hyperthermia (a model of PSH) by monitoring core body temperature (Tc) during both light (10:00 am-12:00 pm) and dark (10:00 pm-12:00 am) phases in conscious, freely moving rats. We also investigated the effects of these drugs on stress-induced changes in locomotor activity (La) to rule out the possibility that effects on Tc are achieved secondary to altered La Cage-exchange stress increased Tc within 20 min followed by a gradual decrease back to baseline Tc during both phases. In the light phase, mepyramine and cimetidine markedly attenuated PSH, whereas ciproxifan did not affect it. In contrast, in the dark phase, mepyramine dropped Tc by 1°C without affecting cage-exchange stress-induced hyperthermia, whereas cimetidine and ciproxifan did not affect both postinjection Tc and PSH Cage-exchange stress induced an increase in La, especially in the light phase, but none of these drugs altered cage-exchange stress-induced La in either circadian rhythm phase. These results suggest that the histaminergic system is involved in the physiological mechanisms underlying PSH, particularly through H1 and H2 receptors, without influencing locomotor activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Battuvshin Lkhagvasuren
- Department of Psychosomatic Medicine, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan.,The Neuroscience Cluster, Science and Technology Center, Mongolian National University of Medical Sciences, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia
| | - Takakazu Oka
- Department of Psychosomatic Medicine, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan
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Abstract
Stress affects core body temperature (Tc). Many kinds of stress induce transient, monophasic hyperthermia, which diminishes gradually if the stressor is terminated. Stronger stressors produce a longer-lasting effect. Repeated/chronic stress induces anticipatory hyperthermia, reduces diurnal changes in Tc, or slightly increases Tc throughout the day. Animals that are exposed to chronic stress or a cold environment exhibit an enhanced hyperthermic response to a novel stress. These changes persist for several days after cessation of stress exposure. In contrast, long-lasting inescapable stress sometimes induces hypothermia. In healthy humans, psychologic stress induces slight increases in Tc, which are within the normal range of Tc or just above it. Some individuals, however, develop extremely high Tc (up to 41°C) when they are exposed to emotional events or show persistent low-grade high Tc (37-38°C) during or after chronic stress situations. In addition to the nature of the stressor itself, such stress-induced thermal responses are modulated by sex, age, ambient temperature, cage mates, past stressful experiences and cold exposure, and coping. Stress-induced hyperthermia is driven by mechanisms distinct from infectious fever, which requires inflammatory mediators. However, both stress and infection activate the dorsomedial hypothalamus-rostral medullary raphe region-sympathetic nerve axis to increase Tc.
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Affiliation(s)
- Takakazu Oka
- Department of Psychosomatic Medicine, International University of Health and Welfare Hospital, Tochigi-ken, Japan.
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Miyamoto T, Funakami Y, Kawashita E, Tomita S, Nomura A, Sugimoto N, Saeki H, Miyazakia T, Tsubota M, Ichida S, Kawabata A. Enhanced Hyperthermic Responses to Lipopolysaccharide in Mice Exposed to Repeated Cold Stress. Pharmacology 2017; 99:172-178. [DOI: 10.1159/000454815] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2016] [Accepted: 11/29/2016] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
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Miyamoto T, Funakami Y, Kawashita E, Nomura A, Sugimoto N, Saeki H, Tsubota M, Ichida S, Kawabata A. Repeated Cold Stress Enhances the Acute Restraint Stress-Induced Hyperthermia in Mice. Biol Pharm Bull 2017; 40:11-16. [DOI: 10.1248/bpb.b16-00343] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Tomoyoshi Miyamoto
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Kindai University
- Department of Pharmacy, Seichokai Fuchu Hospital
| | | | | | - Ai Nomura
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Kindai University
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Oka T. Psychogenic fever: how psychological stress affects body temperature in the clinical population. Temperature (Austin) 2015; 2:368-78. [PMID: 27227051 PMCID: PMC4843908 DOI: 10.1080/23328940.2015.1056907] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2015] [Revised: 05/24/2015] [Accepted: 05/25/2015] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Psychogenic fever is a stress-related, psychosomatic disease especially seen in young women. Some patients develop extremely high core body temperature (Tc) (up to 41°C) when they are exposed to emotional events, whereas others show persistent low-grade high Tc (37-38°C) during situations of chronic stress. The mechanism for psychogenic fever is not yet fully understood. However, clinical case reports demonstrate that psychogenic fever is not attenuated by antipyretic drugs, but by psychotropic drugs that display anxiolytic and sedative properties, or by resolving patients' difficulties via natural means or psychotherapy. Animal studies have demonstrated that psychological stress increases Tc via mechanisms distinct from infectious fever (which requires proinflammatory mediators) and that the sympathetic nervous system, particularly β3-adrenoceptor-mediated non-shivering thermogenesis in brown adipose tissue, plays an important role in the development of psychological stress-induced hyperthermia. Acute psychological stress induces a transient, monophasic increase in Tc. In contrast, repeated stress induces anticipatory hyperthermia, reduces diurnal changes in Tc, or slightly increases Tc throughout the day. Chronically stressed animals also display an enhanced hyperthermic response to a novel stress, while past fearful experiences induce conditioned hyperthermia to the fear context. The high Tc that psychogenic fever patients develop may be a complex of these diverse kinds of hyperthermic responses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Takakazu Oka
- Department of Psychosomatic Medicine; Graduate School of Medical Sciences; Kyushu University; Fukuoka, Japan
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Lkhagvasuren B, Nakamura Y, Oka T, Sudo N, Nakamura K. Social defeat stress induces hyperthermia through activation of thermoregulatory sympathetic premotor neurons in the medullary raphe region. Eur J Neurosci 2011; 34:1442-52. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1460-9568.2011.07863.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 71] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
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Repeated social defeat stress induces chronic hyperthermia in rats. Physiol Behav 2010; 101:124-31. [DOI: 10.1016/j.physbeh.2010.04.027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2010] [Revised: 04/16/2010] [Accepted: 04/25/2010] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
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Abstract
OBJECTIVE Despite numerous case reports on "psychogenic fever," it remains uncertain how psychological stress raises core temperature and whether the rise in core temperature is a real fever or a hyperthermia. This article reviews studies on the psychological stress-induced rise in core temperature (PSRCT) in animals with the aim to facilitate studies on the mechanisms of so-called psychogenic fever in humans. METHODS To address this question, we reviewed the mechanisms and mediators of the PSRCT and classic conditioning of the fever response in animals. RESULTS The PSRCT is not due to the increased locomotor activity during stress, and the magnitude of the PSRCT is the same in warm and cold environments, indicating that it is a centrally regulated rise in temperature due to an elevated thermoregulatory "set point." The PSRCT caused by conventional psychological stress models, such as open-field stress, is attenuated by cyclooxygenase inhibitors, which block prostaglandin synthesis. On the other hand, the PSRCT elicited by an "anticipatory anxiety stress" is not inhibited by cyclooxygenase inhibitors but by benzodiazepines and serotonin Type 1A receptor agonists. The febrile response can be conditioned to neutral stimuli after paired presentation with unconditioned stimuli such as injection of lipopolysaccharide, a typical pyrogen. CONCLUSIONS Most findings indicate that the PSRCT is a fever, a rise in the thermoregulatory set point. The PSRCT may occur through prostaglandin E2-dependent mechanisms and prostaglandin E2-independent, 5-HT-mediated mechanisms. The febrile response can be conditioned. Thus, these mechanisms might be involved in psychogenic fever in humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- T Oka
- Department of Psychosomatic Medicine, Kyushu University Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Fukuoka, Japan.
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Janeira LF, Kaufman D, Reddy S, Weiner B. Iatrogenic factitious fever in an elderly hospitalized patient. N Engl J Med 1987; 317:55. [PMID: 3587316 DOI: 10.1056/nejm198707023170116] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
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