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 person receives general anesthesia.
This condition is not the same as hyperthermia due to medical emergencies such as heat stroke.
Alternative Names
Hyperthermia - malignant; Hyperpyrexia - malignantCauses
Malignant hyperthermia is an autosomal dominant trait, meaning it requires only one parent carrying the disease for a child to inherit the condition. It may be associated with muscular diseases such as multiminicore myopathy and central core disease.
One form of malignant hyperthermia is caused by a defect in the ryanodine receptor (RYR1) gene
References
Marx J. Rosen’s Emergency Medicine: Concepts and Clinical Practice. 5th ed. St. Louis, Mo: Mosby; 2002:2000.
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