Blatteis C M
Yale J Biol Med. 1986 Mar-Apr;59(2):107-16.
Data obtained in lizards infected with live bacteria suggest that fever may be beneficial to their survival. An adaptive value of fever has also been inferred in mammals, but the results are equivocal. Findings that certain leukocyte functions are enhanced in vitro at high temperatures have provided a possible explanation for the alleged benefits of fever. However, serious questions exist as to whether results from experiments in ectotherms and in vitro can properly be extrapolated to in vivo endothermic conditions. Indeed, various studies have yielded results inconsistent with the survival benefits attributed to fever, and fever is not an obligatory feature of all infections under all conditions. Certainly, the widespread use of antipyretics, without apparent adverse effects on the course of disease, argues against fever having great benefit to the host. In sum, although fever is a cardinal manifestation of infection, conclusive evidence that it has survival value in mammals is still lacking.
在感染活细菌的蜥蜴身上获得的数据表明，发热可能对它们的生存有益。在哺乳动物中也推断出发热具有适应性价值，但结果并不明确。有研究发现某些白细胞功能在高温下体外会增强，这为发热所谓的益处提供了一种可能的解释。然而，关于是否能将变温动物体外实验结果合理外推至体内恒温动物的情况，存在严重疑问。事实上，各种研究得出的结果与归因于发热的生存益处并不一致，而且发热并非在所有情况下所有感染的必然特征。当然，广泛使用退烧药且对病程没有明显不良影响，这与发热对宿主有很大益处的观点相悖。总之，尽管发热是感染的主要表现，但仍缺乏确凿证据证明其在哺乳动物中具有生存价值。
