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Malignant hyperthermia - Symptom

Alternative Names

Hyperthermia - malignant; Hyperpyrexia - malignant

Symptoms:

Malignant hyperthermia is often noted for the first time after a patient is given anesthesia during a surgical procedure.

Symptoms include:

Rapid rise in temperature to 105 degrees F or higher
Muscle rigidity and stiffness
Dark brown urine
Muscle ache without obvious exercise to explain sore muscles

Signs and tests:

There may be a family history of malignant hyperthermia or unexplained death during anesthesia.

Tests that may be done include:

Chem-20
Genetic testing to look for defects in the RYR1 gene
Muscle biopsy
Myoglobin in the urine

Reviewed last on: 7/23/2008
A.D.A.M. Editorial Team: David Zieve, MD, MHA, Greg Juhn, MTPW, David R. Eltz. Previously reviewed by Chad Haldeman-Englert, MD, Division of Human Genetics, Children's Hospitalof Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA. Review provided by VeriMed HealthcareNetwork (7/25/2007).

References

Vicario S. Heat illness. In: Marx J, ed. Rosen’s Emergency Medicine: Concepts and Clinical Practice. 6th ed. St. Louis, Mo: Mosby; 2006:chap 139.

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