Clinical studies have indicated that transient hypotension can occur after propacetamol administration. This study aimed to analyze the hemodynamic changes after propacetamol administration in patients visiting the ED due to febrile UTI. We also examined the incidence of propacetamol-induced hypotension and compared the clinical characteristics of patients with persistent hypotension, defined as requiring additional fluids or vasopressors, to those with transient hypotension.

A retrospective analysis of the electronic medical records of patients who visited the ED between June 2015 and May 2016, were diagnosed with febrile UTI, and treated with propacetamol, was conducted.

We included 195 patients in this study; of these, 87 (44.6%) showed hypotension. In all patients, significant decreases in systolic blood pressure (SBP; 135.06±20.45mmHg vs 117.70±16.41mmHg), diastolic blood pressure (DBP; 79.74±12.17mmHg vs 69.69±10.96mmHg), and heart rate (97.46±17.14mmHg vs 90.72±14.90mmHg) were observed after propacetamol administration. The basal SBP and DBP were higher in the hypotension than in the non-hypotension group (basal SBP: 144.4±22.3mmHg vs 127.6±15.3mmHg; basal DBP: 83.3±12.6mmHg vs 76.9±11.0mmHg). Patients with persistent hypotension had a lower baseline BP, which was not elevated despite fever, and a higher rate of bacteremia than those with transient hypotension.

Although febrile UTI patients treated with propacetamol in the ED showed hemodynamic changes, these changes did not have a large effect on their prognosis. However, in patients who showed bacteremia or a normal initial BP despite fever, the possibility of developing persistent hypotension should be considered.