title: The Israeli Diagnostic Center for Malignant Hyperthermia: 7-years' accumulated experience.
abstract: Malignant hyperthermia (MH), a rare pharmacogenetic trait, can be lethal when susceptible individuals are exposed to triggering agents during general anesthesia. We present our experience with the caffeine-halothane in vitro contracture test (IVCT) for the diagnosis of malignant hyperthermia susceptibility. Out of 75 patients that were referred for consultation to the MH diagnostic center over a period of 7 years, we performed muscle biopsies and IVCT in 21 patients. A total of 6 patients were found to be MH-positive. Appropriate recommendations for future anesthetic management, and additionally, for testing the immediate family were made following a positive diagnosis. Improved familiarity with the syndrome of MH, and performance of IVCT when family or clinical history suggest malignant hyperthermia susceptibility, are imperative measures to prevent the potential fatality associated with this syndrome.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care, Chaim Sheba Medical Center, Tel-Hashomer, Tel Aviv, Israel.
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Glauber
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ben Abraham
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Zweig
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Perel
mesh_terms: D000047:Academies and Institutes; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001706:Biopsy; D002110:Caffeine; D002648:Child; D004576:Electromyography; D005260:Female; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D006221:Halothane; D006801:Humans; D007557:Israel; D008297:Male; D008305:Malignant Hyperthermia / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D008875:Middle Aged; D009119:Muscle Contraction / Q000187:drug effects*; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000187:drug effects*; D018579:Patient Selection; D012017:Referral and Consultation; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
chemical_list: D002110:Caffeine; D006221:Halothane