Antipyretic effect of indomethacin in patients with malignancy

The antipyretic effect of indomethacin in 30 febrile patients with malignancy was evaluated. Effective antipyresis was observed in 20 of the 30 patients. Responses were usually prompt and complete and side effects were reported infrequently. Defervescence was obtained much more frequently in those patients whose fever seemed related primarily to the neoplastic process rather than to a complicating infection. In eight patients indomethacin effected a defervescence after another antipyretic had failed to do so. The authors conclude that indomethacin should be considered as an alternate antipyretic in patients with malignancy complicated by fever.