Hi Hopeful,
It is quite complicated to explain fever - low grade fever is common in many malignant diseases like MDS.
Internal
pyrogens are substances that induce fever to the body. Many
cytokines - signaling molecules that, like hormones and neurotransmitters, are used in cellular communication - are a part of the immune system and are pyrogens.
Examples of internal pyrogens are the cytokines tumor necrosis factor-alpha. interleukin-1 and interleukin-6.
These cytokines are released into general circulation from different kinds of white blood cells and migrate to the brain. The cytokines then bind with receptors on vessel walls, or interact with local cells. When these cytokines bind we get the febrile response from the brain.
Tumour necrosis factor-alpha is believed to play a major role in death of bone marrow cells in MDS.
Several cytokines – for example Neupogen – are used to treat MDS patients. Neupogen pushes the bone marrow so that the white blood cells increase
.
When you have a disease like MDS you should not try to decrease fever with drugs because then you get a "false" low temperature. If the fever is due to an infection the false low temperature will prevent you from seeking help early while the infection is more easy to treat.
If this explanation is impossible to understand please post an answer and I will try to explain the difficult parts with other words.
Kind regards
Birgitta-A
70 yo, dx MDS Inter-1 May 2006, transfusion dependent, Desferal for iron overload, Neupogen 2 injections/week for low white blood cells