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Malignant hyperthermia

Last reviewed dd mmm yyyy. Last edited dd mmm yyyy

Authoring team

Malignant hyperpyrexia is a rare condition which can occur after exposure to most general anaesthetic or muscle relaxants, resulting in:

  • widespread skeletal muscle rigidity
  • hyperpyrexia
  • acidosis

On exposure to the initiating agent, there is an acute rise in intracellular calcium which causes rigidity, muscle necrosis and hyperpyrexia with a rate of increase of greater than 2 degrees centrigrade every hour.

Plasma levels of creatine kinase may be extremely high during the acute phase.

Diagnosis is made by in vitro exposure of muscle to halothane or suxamethonium.


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