Report from the 2002 Meeting of the European Malignant Hyperthermia Group

by Dr. Barbara Brandom (Children’s Hospital) with Dr. Sheila Muldoon (Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences). Both Dr. Brandom and Dr. Muldoon are members of the Professional Advisory Council of the North American Malignant Hyperthermia Registry of the (MHAUS).

Antwerp, Belgium, May 16-18, 2002 – The 21st Annual Meeting of the European Malignant Hyperthermia Group (EMHG) was hosted by EMHG Chairman Professor Albert Urwyler; Dr. Luc Heytens; and the head of the Department of Intensive Care, University Hospital Antwerp, Professor L. Bossaert, who welcomed attendees from all parts of Europe, and two from the United States. More than 20 reports of original research studies were presented, most of which investigated aspects of the pharmacology of malignant hyperthermia (MH). There were also several review lectures on cell biology, genetics, and central core syndromes. In this overview, we report on selected presentations that we consider particularly relevant to the North American Malignant Hyperthermia Registry (NAMHR).

Noteworthy discussion included implementation of standard and alternative contracture tests within the EMHG. Halothane 2% and caffeine 2 mM are still recognized as the best tests of MH susceptibility. Children should be at least 10 years old before undergoing contracture testing. Larger bath volumes may be preferable. Dr. Barbara Brandom gave an update on the NAMHR programs in the past year, describing the number of biopsies entered, improvements planned for the system, and progress made by the biopsy centers in genotyping patients. To date, 105 patients have been genotyped. The detection rate for RYR1 mutations using our screening strategy was 24%. Dr. Renee Krivosic-Horber, from Lille Center in France, presented two patients with positive IVCT tests, who experienced myopathic symptoms after receiving ‘statin’ drugs. These results supported the argument that patients with chronically elevated creatine kinase (CK) levels should undergo contracture (IVCT) testing to evaluate MH susceptibility. The sibling of one of these index patients was also found to be MHS by contracture testing, although this relative had never been treated with any cholesterol-lowering drugs. continue

First Annual Pittsburgh International Symposium on Regional Anesthesia and Pain Management

Several Department faculty members will be course directors at the upcoming First Annual Pittsburgh International Symposium on Regional Anesthesia and Pain Management, to be held August 22-24 at the Pittsburgh Westin Convention Center. The purpose of this symposium is to update anesthesiologists and related health care professionals on the latest techniques in regional anesthesia for surgery and postoperative pain management. The course will emphasize single-injection and continuous-infusion nerve block techniques within the context of various surgeries. It will also cover topics in chronic pain, pediatric regional analgesia, regional anesthesia in obstetrics, and regional anesthesia in cardiothoracic, vascular, and general surgery. For more information, see http://www.anes.upmc.edu/rapm.