Scientists Share Data about Malignant Hyperthermia

Newswise — Travel Award Available to share data with Clinicians and Scientists to advance the diagnosis, treatment, and management of Malignant Hyperthermia-Susceptible Patients April 23-24, 2010 at Mercy Hospital University of Pittsburgh Medical Center.

There is no charge for medical and graduate students, or residents to attend the MHAUS Sponsored Scientific Conference: “Malignant Hyperthermia: New Insights and Connections with Other Myopathies.”

Session Topics and Speakers are: “Pathophysiology of MH - Overview and Recent Advances in Understanding” presented by Chair: Jerome Parness, MD, PhD, UPMC; “Genetics of MH: Results and Future Directions” presented by Chair: Sheila Muldoon, MD, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences (USUHS); “MH Epidemiology and Case Studies & Future Directions/ Challenges” presented by Chair: Henry Rosenberg, MD, CPE, Saint, Barnabas Medical Center.

Full meeting agenda is available and MHAUS anticipates receiving 14 or more CME credits for this program.

Poster Presentations - Deadline for submission is March 15, 2010; see website for details.

Submission of abstracts for poster presentation by researchers and clinicians with an active interest in MH and related disorders is encouraged. A travel award to support the cost of conference attendance will be offered to the investigator who submits the highest quality abstract.

For information and to register go to: http://www.mhaus.org or call: 800-986-4287. Email abstracts for poster presentations to [email protected] or send to MHAUS PO Box 1069, Sherburne, NY 13460.

Malignant Hyperthermia is reaction to commonly used volatile gaseous anesthesia which can result in death in minutes, unless the patient receives rapid emergency therapy from medical professionals trained to recognize and treat MH quickly.

A patient’s response to anesthesia includes: a rise in heart rate, greatly increased body metabolism, muscle rigidity and/or fever that may exceed 110 degree Fahrenheit; complications can include cardiac arrest, brain damage, internal bleeding and other body system failure. Without emergency therapy for MH, the patient has a greater than 85% chance of death.

MH is an autosomal dominant genetic disorder, so if your mother or father has it, you have a 50:50 chance of inheriting it.

MH tragedies have devastated families, medical professionals' careers, and medical facilities alike, but it does not have to --- MH emergencies are manageable 95% of the time.

The mission of MHAUS is to promote optimum care and scientific understanding of MH and related disorders.