Do we foresee new emerging drugs to treat malignant hyperthermia?

Abstract

Malignant hyperthermia (MH) is a life-threatening genetic sensitivity of skeletal muscles to volatile anesthetics and depolarizing neuromuscular blocking drugs occurring during or after anesthesia. Mortality of MH has been significantly reduced by using the skeletal muscle relaxant dantrolene. However, pharmacological disadvantages are known. By approval of a nanocrystalline dantrolene sodium suspension (DSS), a new product enters the market. DSS is a promising substance, but clinical data are lacking up to now. Especially with regard to newer knowledge on MH and its associated clinical presentations, there might be an increasing interest on DSS.

Keywords:

• anesthesia
• dantrolene
• dantrolene sodium suspension
• malignant hyperthermia
• nanocrystalline suspension

Declaration of interest

MU Gerbershagen received a consulting honorary in context of an animal study design from Eagle Pharmaceuticals. The authors have no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript apart from those disclosed.