BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Body temperature is a strong predictor of outcome
in acute stroke. However, it is unknown whether antipyretic treatment
leads to early and clinically worthwhile reduction of body temperature in
patients with acute stroke, especially when they have no fever. The main
purpose of this trial was to study whether early treatment of acute
ischemic stroke patients with acetaminophen (paracetamol) reduces body
temperature. METHODS: Seventy-five patients with acute ischemic stroke
confined to the anterior circulation were randomized to treatment with
either 500 mg (low dose) or 1000 mg (high dose) acetaminophen or with
placebo, administered as suppositories 6 times daily during 5 days. Body
temperatures were measured with a rectal electronic thermometer at the
start of treatment and after 24 hours and with an infrared tympanic
thermometer at 2-hour intervals during the first 24 hours and at 6-hour
intervals thereafter. The primary outcome measure was rectal temperature
at 24 hours after the start of treatment. RESULTS: Treatment with
high-dose acetaminophen resulte