Rhabdomyolysis Part 1

Rhabdomyolysis is a syndrome due to a direct or indirect muscle injury. It is the breakdown of muscle tissue that leads to the release of muscle fiber contents into the blood.1 There is a death of muscle fibers that causes a release of their contents into the bloodstream.

One of the complications of rhabdomyolysis is kidney failure. It can be from a direct injury to the kidney and plugging of the filtering tubes of the kidney because of the muscle proteins among the causes of kidney function impairment in the setting of rhabdomyolysis.2 This happens when the kidneys can no longer remove waste and concentrated urine. In extreme but rare cases, it can even cause death, but as long as there is prompt treatment, there should be a good outcome.2

Most of the causes of rhabdomyolysis are reversible if noticed and treated quickly. One of the most common causes of rhabdomyolysis are a muscle trauma or crush injury, the use of alcohol or illegal drugs like heroin, cocaine, or amphetamines, and a long-lasting muscle compression caused by prolonged immobilization after a fall or lying unconscious on a hard surface.1 A few more causes are prolonged coma, physical torture or child abuse, severe muscle contractions from prolonged seizures, extreme muscle strain, electrical shock injury, third-degree burn, viral infections like the flu or HIV.

Medications can also cause a development of rhabdomyolysis.2 Medicines that treat high cholesterol such as Zocor, Lipitor, Pravachol, and/or Mevacor can be a cause, along with others like Parkinson’s medication, psychiatric, anesthesia, and HIV medications can all be causes of rhabdomyolysis.1 A variety of viruses and some bacteria can also be a cause. Even venom from certain snake bites can cause rhabdomyolysis.2

In the next blog I will discuss the signs and symptoms of rhabdomyolysis along with the physical exams that are available by the doctor to detect this syndrome.

References:

1Rhabdomyolysis: MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia. (n.d.). Retrieved June 05, 2016, from https://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000473.htm

2Rhabdomyolysis. (n.d.). Retrieved June 05, 2016, from http://www.healthline.com/health/rhabdomyolysis#Overview1