Skeletal Muscle Metabolic Dysfunction in Patients With Malignant Hyperthermia Susceptibility.

Background: Malignant hyperthermia (MH), a pharmacogenetic disorder of skeletal muscle, presents with a potentially lethal hypermetabolic reaction to certain anesthetics. However, some MH-susceptible patients experience muscle weakness, fatigue, and exercise intolerance in the absence of anesthetic triggers. The objective of this exploratory study was to elucidate the pathophysiology of exercise intolerance in patients tested positive for MH with the caffeine-halothane contracture test.