Incidence of malignant hyperthermia

General population

Reported between 1:5000 and 1:200 000.

Familial

Most affected families have a dominant pattern of inheritance. However, there is a variable penetrance and expressivity of the disease. This occurs on second or later triggering anaesthetic in 1/3 of cases, but all are thought to be picked up by contracture testing.

Genetics

At least four chromosomal locations have been identified:
 
Best defined is the Ryanodine receptor on 19q13
 
Also 17, 7, and 3.