Malignant Hyperthermia
Kay 1
Amy Kay
Professor Robinson
Medical Terminology
October 12, 2005
Malignant Hyperthermia Malignant Hyperthermia (MH) is a pharmacogenetic disease of skeletal muscle. Characteristically patients with this disease have no signs or symptoms except during an anesthetic. When exposed to inhalational anesthetics (those which are gases), muscle metabolism increases, and a series of signs and symptoms appear, which if left untreated can lead to death. The earliest findings are an increased production of carbon dioxide and signs of increases sympathetic nervous system activity. Malignant Hyperthermia is typically a life threatening disease, also referred to as a syndrome, which occurs when a person with Malignant Hyperthermia susceptibility trait is exposed to triggering factors, which include most inhalational anesthetics (though not Nitrous Oxide), succinylcholine ( a muscle relaxant used during surgery) and rarely stress. Classic Malignant Hyperthermia is characterized by hypermetabolism, (increased oxygen consumption and increased carbon dioxide production) muscle rigidity, muscle injury, and increased sympathetic nervous system activity. Hypermetabolism reflected by elevated carbon dioxide Kay 2
production precedes the increase in body temperature. (http://www.mhaus.org) In muscle contraction calcium is released into the cell as a key component in muscle contraction. In MH there is a problem with calcium reuptake. Intracellular calcium increases up 500 fold leading to substained muscle contraction. The cell incurs a severe oxygen debt, the constant demand for ATP leads to glycolysis and subsequent to lactic acidosis. Eventually this lead to membrane instability, cell rupture and rhabdomyolysis. (http://www.mhaus.org) MH is important because it is a potentially fatal disorder. In April 2005
Amy Kay
Professor Robinson
Medical Terminology
October 12, 2005
Malignant Hyperthermia Malignant Hyperthermia (MH) is a pharmacogenetic disease of skeletal muscle. Characteristically patients with this disease have no signs or symptoms except during an anesthetic. When exposed to inhalational anesthetics (those which are gases), muscle metabolism increases, and a series of signs and symptoms appear, which if left untreated can lead to death. The earliest findings are an increased production of carbon dioxide and signs of increases sympathetic nervous system activity. Malignant Hyperthermia is typically a life threatening disease, also referred to as a syndrome, which occurs when a person with Malignant Hyperthermia susceptibility trait is exposed to triggering factors, which include most inhalational anesthetics (though not Nitrous Oxide), succinylcholine ( a muscle relaxant used during surgery) and rarely stress. Classic Malignant Hyperthermia is characterized by hypermetabolism, (increased oxygen consumption and increased carbon dioxide production) muscle rigidity, muscle injury, and increased sympathetic nervous system activity. Hypermetabolism reflected by elevated carbon dioxide Kay 2
production precedes the increase in body temperature. (http://www.mhaus.org) In muscle contraction calcium is released into the cell as a key component in muscle contraction. In MH there is a problem with calcium reuptake. Intracellular calcium increases up 500 fold leading to substained muscle contraction. The cell incurs a severe oxygen debt, the constant demand for ATP leads to glycolysis and subsequent to lactic acidosis. Eventually this lead to membrane instability, cell rupture and rhabdomyolysis. (http://www.mhaus.org) MH is important because it is a potentially fatal disorder. In April 2005
Cited: Malignant Hyperthermia Association of the United States . 18 August 1999. info@mhaus.org North American Malignant Hyperthermia Registry of MHAUS. 20 July 2004. bwb+@pitt.edu Malignant Hyperthermia Hotline. 15 March 2001. http://www.mhaus.org Canadian Malignant Hyperthermia Association . 27 April 2001.