Propofol infusion syndrome presentation includes which key pattern?

Propofol infusion syndrome presentation includes which key pattern?

• A. Acute refractory bradycardia progressing to asystole with metabolic acidosis and rhabdomyolysis
• B. Hypertension and tachycardia with hyperglycemia
• C. Seizures with metabolic alkalosis
• D. Fever with rash and eosinophilia

Answer: (D)

Propofol infusion syndrome is a rare, life-threatening complication from prolonged or high-dose propofol exposure. The key pattern is a severe, progressive deterioration featuring metabolic acidosis together with rhabdomyolysis, often culminating in cardiovascular collapse from bradycardia advancing to asystole. This combination—acute bradycardia that worsens despite treatment, metabolic acidosis, and muscle breakdown—is the defining sequence of PRIS and reflects underlying mitochondrial and cellular energy failure affecting the heart and skeletal muscles. Other options describe processes that are not the typical PRIS pattern: hypertension with tachycardia and hyperglycemia suggests a different hemodynamic or stress response; seizures with metabolic alkalosis is an opposite acid-base state; fever with rash and eosinophilia points more toward a hypersensitivity reaction rather than the PRIS progression.

Propofol infusion syndrome is a rare, life-threatening complication from prolonged or high-dose propofol exposure. The key pattern is a severe, progressive deterioration featuring metabolic acidosis together with rhabdomyolysis, often culminating in cardiovascular collapse from bradycardia advancing to asystole. This combination—acute bradycardia that worsens despite treatment, metabolic acidosis, and muscle breakdown—is the defining sequence of PRIS and reflects underlying mitochondrial and cellular energy failure affecting the heart and skeletal muscles. Other options describe processes that are not the typical PRIS pattern: hypertension with tachycardia and hyperglycemia suggests a different hemodynamic or stress response; seizures with metabolic alkalosis is an opposite acid-base state; fever with rash and eosinophilia points more toward a hypersensitivity reaction rather than the PRIS progression.