Malignant hyperthermia is an inherited disease that causes a rapid rise in body temperature (fever) and severe muscle contractions when the affected person receives general anesthesia.
This condition is not the same as hyperthermia that is due to medical emergencies such as heat stroke or infection.
Alternative NamesHyperthermia - malignant; Hyperpyrexia - malignant
Causes, incidence, and risk factorsMalignant hyperthermia is inherited. Only one parent has to carry the disease for a child to inherit the condition. It may be associated with muscular diseases such as multiminicore myopathy and central core disease.
SymptomsSymptoms include:
Malignant hyperthermia is often discovered after a patient is given anesthesia during a surgical procedure.
There may be a family history of malignant hyperthermia or unexplained death during anesthesia.
The person may have a rapid and often irregular heart rate.
Tests that may be done include:
During an episode of malignant hyperthermia, wrapping the patient in a cooling blanket can help reduce fever and the risk of serious complications. Drugs such as dantrolene, lidocaine, or a beta-blocker drug can help with heart rhythm problems.
Fluids given by through a vein and by mouth, as well as certain medications, are essential for maintaining kidney function during an acute episode.
Support GroupsMalignant Hyperthermia Association of the United States - www.mhaus.org
Expectations (prognosis)Repeated episodes or untreated episodes can cause kidney failure. Untreated episodes can be fatal.
ComplicationsNotify both the surgeon and anesthesiologist before having any surgery if:
If you or anyone in your family has malignant hyperthermia it is very important to tell your doctor, especially before having surgery with general anesthetic. The use of appropriate medications can prevent the complications of malignant hyperthermia during surgery.
It is important to avoid stimulant drugs such as cocaine, amphetamine (speed), and ecstasy. They may produce malignant hyperthermia-like problems in people who are susceptible.
Genetic counseling is recommended for anyone with a family history of myopathy, muscular dystrophy, or malignant hyperthermia.
ReferencesVicario S. Heat illness. In: Marx J, ed. Rosen's Emergency Medicine: Concepts and Clinical Practice. 6th ed. St. Louis, Mo: Mosby; 2006:chap 139.
Dinarello CA, Porat R. Fever and hyperthermia. In: Fauci A, Kasper D, Longo DL, et al, eds. Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine. 17th ed. [online version]. New York, NY:McGraw Hill;2008:chap 17.
Malignant hyperthermia is disease passed down through families that causes a fast rise in body temperature (fever) and severe muscle contractions when the affected person gets general anesthesia.
This condition is not the same as hyperthermia that is due to medical emergencies such as heat stroke or infection.
Alternative NamesHyperthermia - malignant; Hyperpyrexia - malignant
Causes, incidence, and risk factorsMalignant hyperthermia is inherited. Only one parent has to carry the disease for a child to inherit the condition.
It may occur with muscle diseases such as multiminicore myopathy and central core disease.
SymptomsSymptoms include:
Malignant hyperthermia is often discovered after a patient is given anesthesia during surgery.
There may be a family history of malignant hyperthermia or unexplained death during anesthesia.
The person may have a fast and often irregular heart rate.
Tests that may be done include:
During an episode of malignant hyperthermia, wrapping the patient in a cooling blanket can help reduce fever and the risk of serious complications. Drugs such as dantrolene, lidocaine, or a beta-blocker drug can help with heart rhythm problems.
To preserve kidney function during an episode, you must get fluids through a vein and by mouth, as well as certain medications.
Support GroupsMalignant Hyperthermia Association of the United States - www.mhaus.org
Expectations (prognosis)Repeated episodes or untreated episodes can cause kidney failure. Untreated episodes can be fatal.
ComplicationsTell both the surgeon and anesthesiologist before having any surgery if:
If you or anyone in your family has malignant hyperthermia it is very important to tell your doctor, especially before having surgery with general anesthetia. Using certain medications can prevent the complications of malignant hyperthermia during surgery.
Avoid stimulant drugs such as cocaine, amphetamine (speed), and ecstasy. These drugs may cause problems similar to malignant hyperthermia in people who are prone to this condition.
Genetic counseling is recommended for anyone with a family history of myopathy, muscular dystrophy, or malignant hyperthermia.
ReferencesVicario S. Heat illness. In: Marx J, ed. Rosena€™s Emergency Medicine: Concepts and Clinical Practice. 6th ed. St. Louis, Mo: Mosby; 2006:chap 139.
Dinarello CA, Porat R. Fever and hyperthermia. In: Fauci A, Kasper D, Longo DL, et al, eds. Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine. 17th ed. [online version]. New York, NY:McGraw Hill;2008:chap 17.
Schmidt EW, Nichols CG. Heart-related illness. In: Wolfson AB, Hendey GW, Ling LJ, et al, eds. Harwood-Nuss' Clinical Practice of Emergency Medicine. 5th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins; 2009:chap 346.
Steele MT. Rhabdomyolysis. In: Wolfson AB, Hendey GW, Ling LJ, et al, eds. Harwood-Nuss' Clinical Practice of Emergency Medicine. 5th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins; 2009:chap 211.
Reviewed ByReview Date: 04/01/2011
Jacob L. Heller, MD, MHA, Emergency Medicine, Virginia Mason Medical Center, Seattle, Washington. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.
The only way to get malignant hyperthermia is (1) have the genes and (2) get a drug called succinylcholine, which is used to paralyze muscles for surgery.
yes....................
Dantrolene Sodium
yup there is treatment
yes
which is a late clinical sign associated with the end stges of malignant hyperthermiia
Malignant hyperthermia is anesthesia induced and causes genetic predisposed individuals to suffer from uncontrolled increase in skeletal muscle oxidative metabolism. This overwhelms the body responses and may lead to circulatory collapse, necrosis , gangrene and death.
Arthur Lazarus has written: 'The neuroleptic malignant syndrome and related conditions' -- subject(s): Adverse effects, Antipsychotic drugs, Catatonia, Major Tranquilizing Agents, Malignant hyperthermia, Neuroleptic malignant syndrome, Side effects
The usual diagnostic criteria for neuroleptic malignant syndrome includes the presence of hyperthermia (temperature over 38?C or 101?F) with no other assignable cause, muscle rigidity.
Dantrolene is a muscle relaxant that appears to work to prevent the release of calcium. After the widespread introduction of treatment with dantrolene, the mortality of malignant hyperthermia fell from 80% in the 1960s to less than 5%. Azumolene has also been shown to be as effective as dantrolene.
Jiefei Tong has written: 'Defects in the Ca2+ release channel of skeletal muscle sarcoplasmic reticulum that are associated with malignant hyperthermia and central core disease'
Depending on the context, MHR could stand for major histocompatibility region, malignant hyperthermia resistance, maternal heart rate, or maximum (maximal) heart rate.