Pel-Ebstein fever
| Pel-Ebstein fever |
Template:Search infobox Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]
Overview
Pel-Ebstein fever is a rarely seen condition noted in patients with Hodgkin's lymphoma in which the patient experiences fevers which cyclicly increase then decrease over an average period of 1 or two weeks. [1] The same type of cyclic fever is also associated with other conditions such tuberculosis[2], but it is not called "Pel-Ebstein fever" unless the fever is associated with Hodgkin's.[3]
Causes
The cause is currently unknown although speculation centers on host immune response, lymph node necrosis, and damaged stomal cells. [4]
Treatment
Treatment with nonsteroidal antiinflamitory agents or treatment of the underlying Hodgkin's (usually with chemotherapy) will help the symptoms. [1]
Eponym
The condition is named after Wilhelm Ebstein and PK Pel who both published papers in 1887 noting the phenomenon. [5] [6] [2]
Controversy
Researchers have speculated whether this condition truly exists. In an article in the New England Journal of Medicine, Richard Asher refers to Pel-Ebstein fever as an example of a condition that exists only because it has a name. "Every student and every doctor knows that cases of Hodgkin's disease may show a fever that is high for one week and low for the next week and so on. Does this phenomenon really exist at all?..." [7]
References
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- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Mauch, Peter (1999). Hodgkin's Disease. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. pp. 327–328. ISBN 0-7817-1502-4. Unknown parameter
|coauthors=ignored (help) - ↑ 2.0 2.1 Template:WhoNamedIt
- ↑ "eMedicine - Pel-Ebstein Fever : Article by Ephraim P Hochberg, MD". Retrieved 2007-07-08.
- ↑ Ree, HJ (1987). "Stromal macrophage-histiocytes in Hodgkin's disease. Their relation to fever". Cancer. 60 (1479).
- ↑ Ebstein, Wilhelm (1887). "Das chronische Ruckfallsfieber, eine neue Infectionskrankheit". Berlin Klin Wochenschr. 24 (565).
- ↑ Pel, PK (1887). "Pseudoleukaemie oder chronisches Ruckfallsfieber?". Berlin Klin Wochenschr. 24 (565).
- ↑ Asher, Richard (July 6, 1995). "Making Sense". The New England Journal of Medicine. 333. Text " pages 66-67 " ignored (help)