Hypothermia

Hypothermia is a systemic physiological state defined by a core body temperature falling below 35°C (95°F) and is not a specific molecular target, receptor, or enzyme [StatPearls - Hypothermia, 2023]. It occurs when the body's heat loss exceeds its heat production, leading to a progressive decline in metabolic rate and organ function [Mayo Clinic - Hypothermia, 2023]. While not a drug target itself, Targeted Temperature Management (TTM) is a clinical intervention used to induce mild hypothermia to provide neuroprotection following cardiac arrest or neonatal hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy by reducing cerebral oxygen demand and limiting ischemia-reperfusion injury [AHA - Targeted Temperature Management, 2020]. Accidental hypothermia is a medical emergency that can lead to severe complications such as cardiac arrhythmias, coagulopathy, and death [NIH - Hypothermia, 2021]. Pharmacological agents are often used during therapeutic hypothermia to manage the body's natural shivering response and facilitate cooling, rather than acting on a 'hypothermia' molecule [NCBI - Shivering Management in TTM, 2018].

Other names

Accidental hypothermiaTargeted temperature managementTherapeutic hypothermiaLow core body temperature

Hypothermia is a physiological state rather than a molecular mechanism; however, therapeutic hypothermia works by slowing enzymatic reactions, reducing the production of reactive oxygen species, and decreasing the metabolic rate of tissues.