Poikilothermia

Impaired thermoregulation characterized by inability to maintain a stable core body temperature independent of ambient temperature, due to failure of autonomic and metabolic heat-conserving and heat-dissipating mechanisms, most commonly involving hypothalamic dysfunction.

Causes

• Central nervous system causes

  • Traumatic brain injury

  • Stroke

  • Brain tumor

  • Hypothalamic injury or dysfunction

  • Spinal cord injury at or above the T₆ level

  • Multiple sclerosis

  • Autonomic nervous system disorders

  • Advanced neurodegenerative diseases

• Endocrine and metabolic causes

  • Hypothyroidism

  • Adrenal insufficiency

  • Hypopituitarism

  • Severe malnutrition

• Medication and substance-related causes

  • Ethanol (alcohol)

  • Opioids

  • Barbiturates

  • Sedative medications impairing autonomic responses

• Vascular causes

  • Acute limb ischemia

  • Compartment syndrome

• Fabry disease

• Sepsis with dysregulated thermoregulation