Author: Michael Hunt, M.D.

Educational Pearls

• Rhabdomyolysis is caused by the destruction of skeletal muscle that leads to the release of myoglobin, which causes renal failure. It presents with pain and weakness in the affected muscle, as well as dark urine.
• Diagnosis is made with creatinine kinase levels
• It can happen to extreme athletes after competition, but the most common presentation is in people who fall and are immobilized for long periods of time.
• Other causes include burns, crush injuries, viral infections (influenza), bacterial infections (Legionella), and medications (statins in adults, propofol in kids)
• Treatment is aggressive fluids

References: Huerta-Alardín AL, Varon J, Marik PE. Bench-to-bedside review: Rhabdomyolysis – an overview for clinicians. Critical Care. 2005;9(2):158-169. doi:10.1186/cc2978.