MH and gender

Q: Malignant Hyperthermia (MH) is disproportionally high in? - select one

A) males

B) females

Answer: A

The male-to-female ratio for MH is 2:1. The obvious explanation is the likely higher skeletal mass in males, though it does not fully account for the high prevalence in males. Moreover, children less than 19 years of age are more prone to develop MH.

#anesthesia

References:

1. Brady JE, Sun LS, Rosenberg H, Li G. Prevalence of malignant hyperthermia due to anesthesia in New York State, 2001-2005. Anesth Analg 2009; 109:1162.

2. Larach MG, Gronert GA, Allen GC, et al. Clinical presentation, treatment, and complications of malignant hyperthermia in North America from 1987 to 2006. Anesth Analg 2010; 110:498.

3. Rosenberg H, Davis M, James D, et al. Malignant hyperthermia. Orphanet J Rare Dis 2007; 2:21.

4. Rosenberg H, Pollock N, Schiemann A, Bulger T, Stowell K. Malignant hyperthermia: a review. Orphanet J Rare Dis. 2015 Aug 4;10:93. doi: 10.1186/s13023-015-0310-1. PMID: 26238698; PMCID: PMC4524368.