Malignant hyperthermia

Injury	Disease	Nutrition	Poison

Symptoms	Surgery	Test	Special Topic

Overview

Symptoms

Treatment

Prevention

Malignant hyperthermia

Definition:

Malignant hyperthermia is an inherited disease that causes a rapid rise in body temperature (fever) and severe muscle contractions when the affected personundergoes generalanesthesia.

This condition is not the same as hyperthermia due to medical emergencies such as heat stroke.

Alternative Names:
Hyperthermia - malignant; Hyperpyrexia - malignant
Causes, incidence, and risk factors:

text continues below

Malignant hyperthermia is often noted for the first time after a patient is given anesthetic drugs during a surgical procedure. The anesthetized patient quickly develops muscle rigidity. Body temperature rapidly rises to 105 degrees F or higher. During these episodes, muscle tissue is destroyed and, eventually, kidney failure may result. Urine may turn a dark color (see rhabdomyolysis).

Malignant hyperthermia is an autosomal dominant trait, meaning it requires only one parent carrying the disease for a child toinherit the condition. It may be associated with muscular diseases such as multiminicore myopathy and central core disease.

The condition requires immediate treatment.

References:

Marx J. Rosen?s Emergency Medicine: Concepts and Clinical Practice. 5th ed. St. Louis, Mo: Mosby; 2002:2000.