Resistance to atracurium in a patient with an increase in plasma alpha 1 globulins

We observed that a female patient with a poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma of the stomach undergoing gastrectomy was markedly resistant to the action of the neuromuscular blocking drug atracurium. There was no evidence of tumour metastasis and her liver function tests were normal. Electrophoresis of plasma proteins revealed a marked increase in alpha 1 globulin. Alpha 1 acid glycoprotein is an acute phase reactant that is increased in patients with cancer and is present in the alpha 1 globulin electrophoresis pattern. It is likely that the mechanism for the resistance to neuromuscular block in the patient was an increase in drug binding to alpha 1 acid glycoprotein.