Malignant Hyperthermia

Malignant hyperthermia is a genetic disease that causes a life-threatening reaction to certain anesthesia medications. The disorder usually runs in families and is treatable.

General anesthesia allows a person to undergo surgery without awareness. There are several medications that can produce general anesthesia. Only a few of these medications trigger malignant hyperthermia. Most medications do not.

Even though malignant hyperthermia runs in families, it’s possible to carry the mutation for the disease and not know it.

Who is most likely to get malignant hyperthermia?

People with family members that have had a malignant hyperthermia reaction are at risk. Someone with a first-degree relative (father, mother, son or daughter) that has had a malignant hyperthermia reaction is considered susceptible to the condition. It’s important to inform your anesthesiologist of your family history before you have a surgical procedure.

Even if your family members have never had a malignant hyperthermia type of reaction, certain muscle diseases also increase your risk. These include:

• Central core disease.
• Multiminicore disease.
• King-Denborough syndrome.
• STAC3 disorder.

How common is malignant hyperthermia?

Although the numbers vary, it is estimated that malignant hyperthermia occurs in about one in 100,000 surgeries for adults. The estimate in children is one in 30,000 surgeries. Half of the diagnosed cases are in people younger than 19.

Scientists think that susceptibility to malignant hyperthermia is probably more common because many people with an increased risk of this condition are never exposed to drugs that would trigger the syndrome.