Malignant hyperthermia and neuroleptic malignant syndrome share several features. Which characteristic is NOT shared?

Malignant hyperthermia and neuroleptic malignant syndrome share several features. Which characteristic is NOT shared?

• A. Generalized muscular rigidity
• B. Hyperthermia
• C. Effectively treated with dantrolene
• D. Flaccid paralysis after administration of vecuronium

Answer: (D)

Both malignant hyperthermia and neuroleptic malignant syndrome involve extreme muscle rigidity and dangerous hyperthermia from excessive muscle activity, and they can both respond to dantrolene because it works by reducing calcium release in skeletal muscle. These shared features reflect the pathophysiology of sustained, exaggerated muscle contraction and heat production. The item that is not a shared characteristic is the idea of flaccid paralysis after administration of a neuromuscular blocker like vecuronium. The syndromes themselves produce rigidity, not flaccid weakness after a drug effect. In other words, the defining issues are hyperthermia and sustained muscle rigidity, and both conditions are treated with dantrolene, whereas a post-drug flaccid paralysis description does not characterize either syndrome.

Both malignant hyperthermia and neuroleptic malignant syndrome involve extreme muscle rigidity and dangerous hyperthermia from excessive muscle activity, and they can both respond to dantrolene because it works by reducing calcium release in skeletal muscle. These shared features reflect the pathophysiology of sustained, exaggerated muscle contraction and heat production.

The item that is not a shared characteristic is the idea of flaccid paralysis after administration of a neuromuscular blocker like vecuronium. The syndromes themselves produce rigidity, not flaccid weakness after a drug effect. In other words, the defining issues are hyperthermia and sustained muscle rigidity, and both conditions are treated with dantrolene, whereas a post-drug flaccid paralysis description does not characterize either syndrome.