Publications by authors named "Luuk R Van den Bersselaar"

Malignant hyperthermia susceptibility (MHS) designates individuals at risk of developing a hypermetabolic reaction triggered by halogenated anaesthetics or the depolarising neuromuscular blocking agent suxamethonium. Over the past few decades, beyond the operating theatre, myopathic manifestations impacting daily life are increasingly recognised as a prevalent phenomenon in MHS patients. At the request of the European Malignant Hyperthermia Group, we reviewed the literature and gathered the opinion of experts to define MHS-related myopathy as a distinct phenotype expressed across the adult lifespan of MHS patients unrelated to anaesthetic exposure; this serves to raise awareness about non-anaesthetic manifestations, potential therapies, and management of MHS-related myopathy.

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Background: Variants in RYR1, the gene encoding the ryanodine receptor-1, can give rise to a wide spectrum of neuromuscular conditions. Muscle imaging abnormalities have been demonstrated in isolated cases of patients with a history of RYR1-related malignant hyperthermia (MH) susceptibility.

Objective: To provide insights into the type and prevalence of muscle ultrasound abnormalities and muscle hypertrophy in patients carrying gain-of-function RYR1 variants associated with MH susceptibility and to contribute to delineating the wider phenotype, optimizing the diagnostic work-up and care for MH susceptible patients.

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Malignant hyperthermia and exertional rhabdomyolysis have conventionally been considered episodic phenotypes that occur in otherwise healthy individuals in response to an external trigger. However, recent studies have demonstrated a clinical and histopathological continuum between patients with a history of malignant hyperthermia susceptibility and/or exertional rhabdomyolysis and -related congenital myopathies. We hypothesize that patients with a history of -related exertional rhabdomyolysis or malignant hyperthermia susceptibility do have permanent neuromuscular symptoms between malignant hyperthermia or exertional rhabdomyolysis episodes.

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Background: A major bottleneck to the introduction of noninvasive presymptomatic diagnostic tests for the pharmacogenetic disorder malignant hyperthermia is the lack of functional data for associated variants.

Methods: We screened 50 genes having a potential role in skeletal muscle calcium homeostasis using the HaloPlex™ (Agilent Technologies, Santa Clara, CA, USA) target enrichment system and next-generation sequencing. Twenty-one patients with a history of a clinical malignant hyperthermia reaction together with a positive in vitro contracture test were included.

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Congenital myopathies are a group of early onset muscle diseases of variable severity often with characteristic muscle biopsy findings and involvement of specific muscle types. The clinical diagnosis of patients typically relies on histopathological findings and is confirmed by genetic analysis. The most commonly mutated genes encode proteins involved in skeletal muscle excitation-contraction coupling, calcium regulation, sarcomeric proteins and thin-thick filament interaction.

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Article Synopsis
  • Patients with neuromuscular conditions face higher risks of complications from anesthesia, prompting the need for tailored anesthetic guidance.
  • The ENMC workshop brought together international experts to review existing literature and develop recommendations for managing anesthesia in various neuromuscular disorders.
  • The consensus statement includes general and specific anesthesia management strategies for different types of myopathies and neuromuscular junction disorders, providing crucial information for healthcare providers.
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Article Synopsis
  • - Malignant hyperthermia (MH) is a severe reaction during anesthesia, primarily triggered by certain anesthetic agents and linked to genetic mutations in the ryanodine receptor (RYR1) gene.
  • - The study examined how factors like strenuous exercise and fever before surgery might influence the occurrence of MH events, analyzing cases from multiple referral centers.
  • - Results showed a connection between recent strenuous exercise, elevated body temperature, and an increased risk of MH during general anesthesia, highlighting the need for careful pre-operative assessments.
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Purpose: Patients with neuromuscular disorders (NMDs) are at increased risk of perioperative complications. The objective of this scoping review was to examine emerging evidence from published studies, case reports, and review articles on anesthetic management of patients with NMDs, following the methodological frame for scoping reviews.

Sources: We searched PubMed and EMBASE for articles published between 1 January 2000 and 14 July 2021.

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Background: The introduction of next-generation sequencing into the diagnosis of neuromuscular disorders has resulted in an increased number of newly identified RYR1 variants. The hypothesis was that there is an increased referral of patients to malignant hyperthermia units without a personal/family history of adverse anesthetic events suspected to be malignant hyperthermia. This retrospective multicenter cohort study evaluates patient referral indications and outcomes for those without a history of an adverse anesthetic event.

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Malignant hyperthermia (MH) is a life-threatening hypermetabolic disorder triggered by volatile anesthetics and/or succinylcholine. We report a case of a 58-year-old patient with a type-A aortic dissection. After induction of general anesthesia, a hypermetabolic reaction was successfully treated by deep hypothermia using cardiopulmonary bypass.

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Introduction: Malignant hyperthermia (MH) and exertional rhabdomyolysis (ERM) have long been considered episodic phenotypes occurring in response to external triggers in otherwise healthy individuals with variants in RYR1. However, recent studies have demonstrated a clinical and histopathological continuum between patients with RYR1-related congenital myopathies and those with ERM or MH susceptibility. Furthermore, animal studies have shown non-neuromuscular features such as a mild bleeding disorder and an immunological gain-of-function associated with MH/ERM related RYR1 variants raising important questions for further research.

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Neurologists are often asked for specific advice regarding patients with neuromuscular disease who require general anaesthesia. However, guidelines on specific neuromuscular disorders do not usually include specific guidelines or pragmatic advice regarding (regional and/or general) anaesthesia or procedural sedation. Furthermore, the medical literature on this subject is mostly limited to publications in anaesthesiology journals.

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Exertional heat stroke (EHS) is a medical emergency characterized by life-threatening hyperthermia and central nerve system dysfunction during or directly after exercise. Early recognition and aggressive cooling reduces morbidity and mortality of patients with EHS. Therefore, all health care professionals involved in acute care should immediately recognise EHS and start cooling with cold water immersion as soon as possible.

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Unlabelled: Acetaminophen and flucloxacillin both interfere with the γ-glutamyl cycle. Long-lasting concomitant use of flucloxacillin and acetaminophen can lead to 5-oxoproline accumulation and severe high anion gap metabolic acidosis. Females and patients with sepsis, impaired kidney and/or liver function, malnutrition, advanced age, congenital 5-oxoprolinase deficiency and supratherapeutic acetaminophen and flucloxacillin dosage are associated with increased risk.

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