Overheating alone can trigger malignant hyperthermia in piglets

Abstract

Seven out of eight piglets which were susceptible to malignant hyperthermia (MHS) died when subjected to a heat challenge which was well tolerated by controls. The piglets which succumbed developed the classical clinical and biochemical changes of malignant hyperthermia before they died. These results show that overheating alone can trigger malignant hyperthermia in susceptible animals. Because the biochemical basis of malignant hyperthermia is similar in both humans and pigs, these observations suggest that overheating can also trigger malignant hyperthermia in humans. The susceptibility to overheating in malignant hyperthermia susceptible humans and animals probably explains why the myopathy which predisposes to this condition has also been reported to predispose to heat-stroke and the sudden infant death syndrome. In view of this, particular care to prevent overheating should be taken in infants of parents who are susceptible to malignant hyperthermia.