Naproxen has greater antipyretic effect on Hodgkin's disease-related fever than on other tumours or infection

In 28 febrile patients with malignant lymphoma or leukaemia, the hourly temperatures were recorded following an oral dose of 125 mg naproxen (50% of normal single adult analgesic dose). 15 patients had clinical infection, and 13 had fever secondary to their malignant disease. Compared to controls, there was no significant antipyretic effect of 125 mg naproxen in infected patients, whereas this small dose in patients without infection had a significant effect. In the uninfected patients, the antipyretic effect was significantly more marked in fever related to Hodgkin's disease than to non-Hodgkin lymphoma or leukaemia. This selective antipyretic effect of a prostaglandin-synthesis inhibitor in turnour-related fever, especially in Hodgkin's disease, is unexplained but may be useful in the palliative treatment of patients with advanced disease.