Low-grade and high-grade fever at presentation of acute pulmonary embolism

We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 154 consecutive patients with acute pulmonary embolism (PE) admitted to an Internal Medicine Service. At presentation, fever (temperature > 37 degrees C) without other identified causes was present in 28 patients (18.2%): 27 patients had low-grade fever (temperature 37-39 degrees C) and one patient had high-grade fever (temperature > 39 degrees C). Epidemiological and clinical characteristics, electrocardiographic and chest radiograph abnormalities and mortality rate were similar in patients with and without fever. Fever, including high-grade fever, is a possible presenting feature in patients with acute PE. Patients with acute PE and fever have similar characteristics compared with those without fever.