Hypothermia in Hodgkin's disease after exploratory laparotomy.

Hypothermia is a rare complication of unknown origin in Hodgkin's disease which has been reported after the administration of antineoplastic agents, chlorpromazine and paracetamol. We report a highly febrile patient with stage IV-B Hodgkin's disease of mixed cellularity type who underwent exploratory laparotomy. Because of suspected septic shock high-dose prednisolone was given during surgery. Postoperatively the patient's body temperature fell progressively to 32.9 degrees C and remained at less then 35.5 degrees C for the following 5 days. There seems to be some functional disorder of thermoregulation in Hodgkin's disease. Physical factors during surgery or certain drugs, especially cytotoxics, corticosteroids, anesthetics or antipyretics may lead to prolonged hypothermia.