Malignant hyperthermia syndrome--evidence for denervation changes in human skeletal muscle.

The presence of denervation-like changes and abnormal mitochondria in the muscle of carriers of the malignant hyperthermia syndrome suggest a neuropathic basis for the human syndrome. A defect in mitochondrial ATP synthesis resulting from denervation, and potentiated by some general anaesthetics, may be the primary muscle fibre lesion in the human malignant hyperthermic syndrome.