Why does aspirin reduce fever, rather than increasing body temperature during systemic inflammation?

💡 Explanation

Aspirin reduces fever because it inhibits cyclooxygenase (COX), thus decreasing prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) synthesis in the hypothalamus. PGE2 normally raises the hypothalamic temperature set point; therefore, inhibiting its synthesis allows the body temperature to return to normal, rather than increase.

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