What occurs if rectal temperature remains elevated after exercise in cases of malignant hyperthermia?

The phenomenon of malignant hyperthermia is critical to understand in the context of elevated body temperature after exercise. When rectal temperature remains elevated, it indicates a serious condition where there is excessive muscle contraction and metabolism, leading to a rapid increase in body temperature. This hypermetabolic state can cause muscle tissue damage due to the sustained high levels of calcium within muscle cells, resulting in increased muscle breakdown.

As muscle tissue is damaged, it releases myoglobin and other byproducts into the bloodstream, which can overwhelm the kidneys. This can lead to acute kidney injury or renal failure as the kidneys attempt to filter out the debris from the damaged muscle tissue. Therefore, the consequence of persistent elevated rectal temperature in malignant hyperthermia is indeed the destruction of muscle tissue, which can consequently impair kidney function. This response ties into the broader understanding of how severe physical stress, combined with genetic predispositions, can lead to serious health complications, highlighting the need for immediate medical intervention in such cases.