[Malignant neuroleptic syndrome and malignant hyperthermia--a comparison].

Malignant Hyperthermia is a specific potentially fatal condition which occurs in susceptible individuals in response to various triggering mechanisms, of which anesthetic agents have been found to be the most common offenders. Leading symptoms are generalized muscular rigidity and hyperpyrexia. The etiology seems to be associated with some inherited disturbance in muscle metabolism related to calcium regulation. This syndrome is known for 25 years, the mechanism of triggering, the genetics and the treatment have been able to get examined by animal model as malignant hyperthermia syndrome may occur in swine as well. Pharmacological in-vitro studies on biopsy specimen of muscle fragments are presently one of the most accepted means for pre-anesthetic diagnosis, the hydantoin derivate dantrolene sodium is the only known specific drug in treatment and prophylaxis. Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome which occurs in patients treated with neuroleptics shows almost identical symptoms. Although the pathogenesis is still unknown, most authors believe a neuroleptic-induced alteration of central neuroregulatory mechanisms is involved. Alternative etiologic mechanisms are suggested by the striking similarities noted between the Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome and Malignant Hyperthermia. Both disorders might be based on common pathophysiologic mechanisms and might be induced in susceptible patients by a variety of pharmacologic agents. The authors present and compare the actual knowledge concerning symptoms, course and therapy of both syndromes on the basis of 126 case studies of the Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome from literature.