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Ankle dorsiflexor twitch properties in malignant hyperthermia
Author(s) -
Quinlan John G.,
Iaizzo Paul A.,
Lambert Edward H.,
Gronert Gerald A.
Publication year - 1989
Publication title -
muscle and nerve
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.025
H-Index - 145
eISSN - 1097-4598
pISSN - 0148-639X
DOI - 10.1002/mus.880120206
Subject(s) - isometric exercise , malignant hyperthermia , ankle , stimulation , hyperthermia , medicine , chemistry , anatomy , anesthesia
A noninvasive method to diagnose malignant hyperthermia (MH) was sought. To this end, in vivo isometric twitch properties of the ankle dorsi‐flexor muscles were studied in three groups: (1) MH‐susceptible patients ( n = 12), (2) relatives ( n = 12) of MH‐susceptible patients who were judged to be MH resistant, and (3) a group of normal volunteers ( n = 42) chosen from the community. Twitch properties were studied under resting state conditions and with 1 or 2 Hz stimulation to produce the negative staircase twitch response. There was a high degree of overlap between the ranges of the measured twitch parameters of all groups. Thus, the techniques presented in this study have no value in diagnosing susceptibility to MH. Several physiological features of human isometric twitch properties were demonstrated: (1) slowing of twitch speed with advancing age, (2) strong positive correlation between body weight and twitch torque, and (3) a negative staircase response typical of that described in other mammalian twitch studies.