The key difference between malignant hyperthermia and neuroleptic malignant syndrome is that malignant hyperthermia is a rare disorder that results in severe reactions to certain drugs used for anesthesia, while neuroleptic malignant syndrome results in severe reactions to neuroleptic medications.
Drug hypersensitivity or adverse reactions result from interactions between a pharmacologic agent (drug) and the human immune system. Malignant hyperthermia and neuroleptic malignant syndrome are two disorders that result in adverse drug reactions. However, they are different disorders with different causes.
CONTENTS
1. Overview and Key Difference
2. What is Malignant Hyperthermia
3. What is Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome
4. Similarities – Malignant Hyperthermia and Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome
5. Malignant Hyperthermia vs. Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome in Tabular Form
6. Summary – Malignant Hyperthermia vs. Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome
What is Malignant Hyperthermia?
Malignant hyperthermia is described as a severe reaction to certain drugs used for anesthesia. The signs and symptoms of malignant hyperthermia may occur during anesthesia or during recovery shortly after surgery. The typical signs and symptoms include severe muscle rigidity, rapid or shallow breathing, problems with low oxygen and high carbon dioxide, rapid heart rate, irregular heart rhythms, dangerously high temperature in the body, excessive sweating, and patchy or uneven skin color. Malignant hyperthermia occurs when people have MHS (malignant hyperthermia susceptibility), a genetic disorder due to gene changes such as RYR1, CACNA1S, and STAC3. When exposed to certain anesthesia, these gene changes increase the risk of malignant hyperthermia. The complications that occur from this condition include rhabdomyolysis, kidney damage or failure, clotting and bleeding problems, and death.
Moreover, malignant hyperthermia can be diagnosed through physical examination, susceptibility testing, genetic testing, and muscle biopsy. Treatment options for malignant hyperthermia may include medications such as dantrolene, providing oxygen, body cooling using ice packs, cooling blankets, a fan with a cool mist, chilled intravenous (IV) fluids, giving extra fluids, and supportive care.
What is Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome?
Neuroleptic malignant syndrome (NMS) is a rare and life-threatening disorder that develops due to drug reactions to any neuroleptic medication. The signs and symptoms of this condition may include very high fever, irregular heartbeat, fast heart rate, rapid breathing, muscle stiffness, altered mental status, high blood pressure, and excessive sweating. The neuroleptic malignant syndrome is caused by dopamine D2 receptor antagonism. The complications resulting from this condition include rhabdomyolysis, dehydration, acute kidney failure, acute respiratory failure, seizures, heart attack, blood clots, acute liver failure, pneumonia, sepsis, urinary tract infection, and pulmonary embolism.
Moreover, the neuroleptic malignant syndrome is diagnosed through physical examination, comprehensive metabolic panel, urinalysis, arterial or venous blood gas test, and CPK (creatine phosphokinase) blood test. The neuroleptic malignant syndrome is treated by mechanical ventilation, antiarrhythmic medications or pacemakers, maintaining electrolyte balance through IV fluids, lowering fever using cooling blankets, ice water or ice packs, lowering blood pressure through blood pressure medications, managing blood clots through heparin, giving medications that can reverse the low dopamine state, and giving muscle or skeletal relaxants.
What are the Similarities Between Malignant Hyperthermia and Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome?
- Malignant hyperthermia and neuroleptic malignant syndrome are two disorders that cause adverse drug reactions.
- Both disorders are rare.
- These disorders are characterized by high body temperature.
- Both disorders can be diagnosed through physical examination and blood tests.
- They are mainly treated with specific medications.
What is the Difference Between Malignant Hyperthermia and Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome?
Malignant hyperthermia is a rare disorder that results in severe reactions to certain drugs used for anesthesia, while neuroleptic malignant syndrome is a disorder that results in severe reactions to neuroleptic medications. Thus, this is the key difference between malignant hyperthermia and neuroleptic malignant syndrome. Furthermore, malignant hyperthermia is caused when people have malignant hyperthermia susceptibility due to gene changes such as RYR1, CACNA1S, and STAC3. On the other hand, neuroleptic malignant syndrome is caused by dopamine D2 receptor antagonism.
The infographic below presents the differences between malignant hyperthermia and neuroleptic malignant syndrome in tabular form for side-by-side comparison.
Summary – Malignant Hyperthermia vs. Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome
A drug allergy or adverse drug reaction involves an immune response in the human body. It produces an allergic reaction to a certain medication. Malignant hyperthermia and neuroleptic malignant syndrome are two disorders that result in adverse drug reactions. Malignant hyperthermia is a life-threatening adverse reaction to certain anesthesia medications. In contrast, neuroleptic malignant syndrome is a life-threatening adverse reaction to neuroleptic or antipsychotic drugs. So, this summarizes the difference between malignant hyperthermia and neuroleptic malignant syndrome.
Reference:
1. “Malignant Hyperthermia: What It Is, Symptoms & Treatment.” Cleveland Clinic.
2. Berman, Brian D. “Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome: A Review for Neurohospitalists.” The Neurohospitalist.
Image Courtesy:
1. “Thermometer – Fever” (CC0) via Pixabay