Eltanolone (5-beta-pregnanolone) does not trigger, and attenuates halothane triggering of, malignant hyperthermia in malignant hyperthermia susceptible swine

Eltanolone is the lipid emulsion formulation, for intravenous use, of the s teroid anaesthetic 5-beta-pregnanolone. We have screened this agent in mali gnant hyperthermia susceptible (MHS) Landrace swine to assess its potential to trigger the Malignant Hyperthermia (MH) syndrome in MHS subjects or to influence halothane triggering of MH in such patients. Administered in anae sthetic concentration, eltanolone did not trigger the MH syndrome in MHS sw ine. When co-administered in low dosage with halothane, the drug prevented initiation of the MH syndrome in four of eight pigs and attenuated its prog ress in the remainder. (C) 1999 The Italian Pharmacological Society.