[Ryanodine-induced contractures for the diagnosis of malignant hyperthermia susceptibility]

The halothane-caffeine contracture test is presently the most well-established method for identification of malignant hyperthermia susceptibility (MHS) or non-susceptibility (MHN). However, 10-20% of the patients tested are classified as equivocal (MHE), i.e. their susceptibility remains uncertain. A genetic disorder of the calcium releasing ryanodine receptor has been postulated recently. Therefore, 12 patients were tested in addition to the protocol of the European Malignant Hyperthermia Group (EMHG) for dose- and time-dependent contracture after ryanodine application. In this study, contracture of 0.2g appeared significantly earlier in MHS patients (17.5 +/- 1.7 min; n = 5) during cumulative ryanodine exposition (0.4-0.8-1.6-10.0 mumol/l) than in MHN (38.2 +/- 5.4 min; n = 5). A significant difference between MHS (10.0 +/- 1.7 min; n = 6) and MHN (19.8 +/- 0.6 min; n = 3) was also seen after bolus application of ryanodine (10.0 mumol/l). One patient classified as MHE according to the EMHG protocol, manifested as MHN after the ryanodine contracture test. This study supports previous work suggesting the ryanodine contracture test as an improvement in the in-vitro diagnosis of MH susceptibility.