Rhabdomyolysis

Rhabdomyolysis is where damaged skeletal muscles quickly break down.[3] The symptoms can be muscle pains, weakness, vomiting, and confusion. There can also be confusion and tea-colored urine.[4] Rhabdomyolysis can also injure the kidneys with myoglobin.

Rhabdomyolysis
A container half-full with brown-stained urine, characteristic for rhabdomyolysis
Urine from a person with rhabdomyolysis showing the characteristic brown discoloration as a result of myoglobinuria
Pronunciation
SymptomsMuscle pains, weakness, vomiting, confusion, tea-colored urine, irregular heartbeat
ComplicationsKidney failure, high blood potassium, low blood calcium, disseminated intravascular coagulation, compartment syndrome
CausesCrush injury, strenuous exercise, medications, drug abuse, certain infections
Diagnostic methodBlood test (creatine kinase), urine test strip
TreatmentIntravenous fluids, dialysis, hemofiltration
Frequency26,000 per year (USA)

The most common causes of Rhabdomyolysis are crush injury, strenuous exercise, medications, or drug abuse.[5]

During rhabdomyolysis, a protein that stores oxygen in the muscles called myoglobin is released into the blood. The kidneys filter the blood and remove the myoglobin. However, the myoglobin breaks down into other chemicals which damages the kidneys which can cause severe injury or even death.

Rhabdomyolysis Media

References

  1. "Rhabdomyolysis". Merriam-Webster Dictionary.
    1. REDIRECT Template:Cite Dictionary.com
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  2. "What Is Rhabdomyolysis?". Healthline. 2016-07-18. Retrieved 2020-09-28.
  3. "Rhabdomyolysis: Symptoms, Treatments". Cleveland Clinic. Retrieved 2020-09-29.
  4. "Rhabdomyolysis: MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia". medlineplus.gov. Retrieved 2020-09-29.