What puts a patient at risk for malignant hyperthermia?

What puts a patient at risk for malignant hyperthermia?

• A. Family history of MH.
• B. Dehydration.
• C. Regular exercise.
• D. Vegetarian diet.

Answer: (A)

Malignant hyperthermia is a genetic susceptibility where skeletal muscle calcium handling goes awry in response to certain anesthetics. The strongest risk factor is a family history, because the predisposition is inherited—mutations in genes such as RYR1 (and related calcium-release pathways) can run in families, meaning relatives may share the same vulnerability. If there’s a known family history, clinicians plan to avoid triggering agents and ensure dantrolene is available to treat a reaction quickly. Dehydration, regular exercise, or a vegetarian diet don’t involve this genetic calcium-handling defect, so they aren’t risk factors for MH.

Malignant hyperthermia is a genetic susceptibility where skeletal muscle calcium handling goes awry in response to certain anesthetics. The strongest risk factor is a family history, because the predisposition is inherited—mutations in genes such as RYR1 (and related calcium-release pathways) can run in families, meaning relatives may share the same vulnerability. If there’s a known family history, clinicians plan to avoid triggering agents and ensure dantrolene is available to treat a reaction quickly. Dehydration, regular exercise, or a vegetarian diet don’t involve this genetic calcium-handling defect, so they aren’t risk factors for MH.