What Causes an MH Episode?

MH-susceptible persons have a mutation that results in the presence of abnormal proteins in the muscle cells of their body. Although normal in everyday life, when these proteins are exposed to certain anesthetic agents, or in rare cases, when exposed to high environmental heat or strenuous exercise, it may cause an abnormal release of calcium from the sarcoplasmic reticulum in the muscle cell, which results in a a sustained muscle contraction and thus an abnormal increase in metabolism and heat production. the muscle cells eventually are depleted of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) the source of cellular energy, and die, releasing large amounts of potassium into the bloodstream, causing hyperkalemia, followed by ventricular (cardiac) arrhythmias. The muscle pigment myoglobin is also released from muscle cells and may be toxic tot the kidney. Left untreated, these changes can cause cardiac arrest, kidney failure, blood coagulation problems, internal hemorrhage, brain injury, livery failure, and may be fatal.