Screening for malignant hyperthermia susceptibility.
In vitro pharmacological testing of isolated muscle strips surgically removed under general anaesthesia from 10 members of a known MH family enabled identification of three MH positive individuals. Diagnosis of MH susceptibility was based on increased sensitivity to low concentrations of caffeine and the presence of halothane-induced contractures in MH susceptible muscle. Dantrolene sodium 15 mg/l completely prevented halothane-induced contractures in two muscle strips from one of the MH positive cases. The successful anaesthetic management of known MH patients is described, as is the successful management of a hyperthermic episode during recovery in one of the MH positive cases.
D002110:Caffeine / Q000494:pharmacology; D003620:Dantrolene / Q000494:pharmacology; D006221:Halothane / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D008305:Malignant Hyperthermia / Q000235:genetics / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008403:Mass Screening; D009119:Muscle Contraction / Q000187:drug effects; D009132:Muscles / Q000503:physiopathology
D002110:Caffeine; D003620:Dantrolene; D006221:Halothane