Eltanolone (5-beta-pregnanolone) does not trigger, and attenuates halothane triggering of, malignant hyperthermia in malignant hyperthermia susceptible swine.

Eltanolone is the lipid emulsion formulation, for intravenous use, of the steroid anaesthetic 5-beta-pregnanolone. We have screened this agent in malignant hyperthermia susceptible (MHS) Landrace swine to assess its potential to trigger the Malignant Hyperthermia (MH) syndrome in MHS subjects or to influence halothane triggering of MH in such patients. Administered in anaesthetic concentration, eltanolone did not trigger the MH syndrome in MHS swine. When co-administered in low dosage with halothane, the drug prevented initiation of the MH syndrome in four of eight pigs and attenuated its progress in the remainder.