This review presents several areas of research on the pathogenesis of fever in humans and
updates new information concerning the role of fever in host defense mechanisms. Fever is
mediated by a polypeptide of phagocytic cell origin called leukocytic pyrogen. Several
agents and disease processes are associated with the synthesis and release of leukocytic
pyrogen. Although the original studies on leukocytic pyrogen suggested that the neutrophil
was the primary source, recent experiments indicate the mononuclear phagocyte to be the …