Anesthesia and myopathy

Curr Opin Anaesthesiol. 2002 Jun;15(3):371-6. doi: 10.1097/00001503-200206000-00016.

Abstract

Purpose of review: This report reviews the derangements of neuromuscular transmission in the different types of myopathy.

Recent findings: The article covers recent literature on myopathy, whether prejunctional, junctional or postjunctional, as well as intensive care unit myopathy, and outlines the influence of myopathy on the action of both depolarizing and non-depolarizing muscle relaxants.

Summary: The review classifies myopathy according to its cause, and sheds light on the upregulation and downregulation of endplate acetylcholine receptors. These findings are important for both clinical practice, and for research into neuromuscular transmission.