• Jan Smid, Maximilian Scherner, Oliver Wolfram, Thomas Groscheck, Jens Wippermann, and Rüdiger C Braun-Dullaeus.
• Center for Internal Medicine, Department of Cardiology and Angiology, University Hospital Magdeburg; Department of Cardiac and Thoracic Surgery, University Hospital Magdeburg; Helios Medical Center Helmstedt, Magdeburg Site.
• Dtsch Arztebl Int. 2018 Mar 23; 115 (12): 193199193-199.

BackgroundPersistent fever of unknown cause is only rarely of cardiac origin, but heart disease must be considered in the differential diagnosis. Aside from endocarditis, pericarditis and various other conditions may be responsible.MethodsThis review is based on pertinent articles retrieved by a selective search in PubMed and Google Scholar employing the term "fever" in combination with "myocardial infarction," "pericarditis," "endocarditis," and "postcardiac injury," with additional consideration of current cardiological guidelines.ResultsEndocarditis is associated with fever in 90% of cases, but 25-50% of patients also develop high body temperatures after acute myocardial infarction. In pericarditis, a temperature above 38°C indicates a poorer prognosis; if accompanied by other warning signs, it is an indication for hospitalization and pericardiocentesis. Fever can arise after cardiac surgical procedures as a manifestation of post - cardiotomy syndrome, a special type of perimyocarditis. There may be a latency period of up to 3 months.ConclusionFever can have both infectious and non-infectious cardiac causes. Its interpretation depends on the clinical context. The evidence base for treatment is sparse, and controlled trials are needed.

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