Systemic hyperthermia, also known as artificial hyperthermia or artificial fever, is a treatment procedure that increases body temperature in a specific way. This process stimulates the cells of the immune system to fight inflammation and fight cancer cells. Hyperthermia is used in the treatment of various chronic diseases, as well as an adjunct to the treatment of cancer. What is hypothermia, what are the indications for hypothermia, who cannot benefit from this treatment?
Systemic hyperthermia , also known as artificial fever or artificial hyperthermia, is a procedure that was practiced centuries ago. In ancient Egypt, heat treated a number of different diseases, from colds to rheumatic pains - the patient was wrapped in a cloth and then immersed in very warm wax or water at a certain temperature.
Currently, hypothermia treatment involves artificially raising the body temperature using an external heat source, and the entire process takes place under strictly controlled conditions. What are the indications for hyperthermia, what diseases can be treated in this way, how is hyperthermia?
What is systemic hyperthermia?
Systemic hyperthermia is an artificially induced low-grade fever or fever.
The treatment consists in a controlled increase of the patient's body temperature to a temperature of about 37.5 ° C - 38.5 ° C (the so-called mild hyperthermia) by about 38.5 ° C - 40.5 ° C (the so-called moderate hyperthermia) to approx. 40.5 ° C - 42.0 ° C (so-called high hyperthermia) for a specified period of time.
This treatment has healing properties - it stimulates the immune system to fight inflammation or cancer cells on a similar basis to fever caused e.g. by pathogens.
Artificial induction of fever occurs through the use of external heat sources - heat radiators, ultrasounds, electromagnetic radiation.
Indications for the hyperthermia treatment
Systemic hyperthermia is used, inter alia, in in treatment:
- cancer
- neuralgia
- rheumatic diseases
- autoimmune diseases
- fibromyalgia
- ankylosing spondylitis
- chronic conditionsinflammation and infections
- in sports medicine and rehabilitation.
What is oncological hyperthermia?
In oncology, hyperthermia is a specialized technique that helps fight cancer.
- This is a planned and controlled heating of the entire body or selected parts of the patient's body, in combination with oncological treatment, radio- or chemotherapy - explains Dr. Elżbieta Nowakowska, head of the radiotherapy department at the International Oncology Center Affidea Poznań.
- Cancer cells are more sensitive to heat than he althy tissues, so thanks to the appropriate use of thermal energy, we can inhibit the growth or destroy cancer cells, which - figuratively speaking - commit a kind of "suicide" - he adds.
As the expert explains. Hyperthermia-assisted radiotherapy can be used for many types of cancer, including malignant ones that are locally advanced, such as skin cancers - melanoma, soft tissue sarcomas, cancers of the head and neck, gastrointestinal tract (e.g. liver, pancreas, rectum and anus) , breasts and pelvis (cervix and bladder).
The oncological hyperthermia treatment may be local (the treatment area is then limited to the neoplastic lesion), regional (then larger areas of the body are heated, e.g. the entire internal organ, body cavity or limb) or systemic. The last option is used in the case of advanced disease with numerous metastases.
-It should be emphasized, however, that hyperthermia is an addition to traditional methods of therapy - it is used as a supplement to radiotherapy or chemotherapy, as well as immunotherapy or gene therapy to positively affect their effectiveness. By increasing the body temperature, we can strengthen the natural processes taking place in the body.
The results of clinical trials show that the use of hyperthermia may increase the effectiveness of the oncological therapy - emphasizes Dr. Elżbieta Nowakowska from Affidea. Hyperthermia treatments are performed in parallel to radio- or chemotherapy - so you do not have to worry that, for example, treatment using this method will be longer than the standard. Hyperthermia generally does not reduce the number of radiotherapy treatments.
Systemic hyperthermia - the course of the treatment
The duration of hyperthermia depends on the disease and is always determined by the doctor. Usually the total duration of the procedure (which also includes preparation bytreatment and rest after hyperthermia) does not exceed three hours.
During the procedure, the patient is under control all the time - it is monitored, among others, by body temperature, saturation, blood pressure and pulse. Hyperthermia is carried out in a special hyperthermia bed or in a special chamber equipped with heat emitters. The patient is covered with a thermal blanket. If necessary, the patient may receive additional medications, such as intravenous infusions, during the hyperthermia procedure. You do not need to be naked for the procedure, comfortable, light cotton clothing is recommended.
Hyperthermia - contraindications to hyperthermia
Hyperthermia treatment is painless and safe, but there are contraindications that preclude its use. The most common contraindications for hyperthermia are:
- pregnancy
- thermal damage to the skin
- acute infection
- treatment with photosensitizing drugs
- tendency to febrile seizures
- cardiac arrhythmia or heart failure (the procedure is possible only if the heart is monitored)
- uncontrolled hyperthyroidism
- nephrosis
- advanced cirrhosis of the liver
- acute jaundice
- advanced tuberculosis.