[Malignant hyperthermia: attempt at an early diagnosis by means of determination of creatine phosphokinase (CPK) and its isoenzymes].

Creatinphosphokinase (CPK) was elevated in sera of patients with malignant hyperthermia and in sera of some of their relatives. Only the MM-isoenzyme (but not the MB- or the BB-isoenzyme) could be detected by paperchromatographic analysis. In some of the patients elevation of muscle aldolase was also observed. Thus, the appearance of the BB-isoenzyme in sera of patients with malignant hyperthermia, as described by another group of investigators, was not confirmed. No specific screening method exists as yet to detect patients with a high risk of developing this often lethal reaction to anesthesia. However, in patients without muscle disease or trauma and without prior i.m. injections, myocardial infarction or major physical strain, elevation of CPK in serum should be interpreted as meaning that malignant hyperthermia may develop during anesthesia. The pathophysiology of malignant hyperthermia is discussed.