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Rhabdomyolysis

(From the Greek: λύσις –lysis) Pathological condition/syndrome of skeletal muscle cell damage resulting from injury (blunt trauma) or over extreme physical strain, involving large quantity leakage of toxic intracellular contents into the blood, causing possible disturbance in myocyte calcium homeostasis and kidney damage.[1]
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Causes of Rhabdomyolysis

  • Crush injury (earthquake, bombing victims)
  • Strenuous--taxing physical exertion (including workouts) resulting in lack of oxygen to the muscles
  • Ischemia
  • Drug toxins
  • Infections
  • Metabolic disorders

Effects

  • Myalgias
  • Seizures
  • Generalized weakness
  • Increased heartrate
  • Altered mental state
  • Darkened urine (tea to dark-colored))
  • Fever
  • Nausea/vomiting

Symptoms & Types/Variations of Rhabdomyolysis

  • Muscular pain and tenderness
  • Decreased muscle strength
  • Soft tissue swelling
  • Skin changes consistent with pressure necrosis
  • Hypethermia, hypothermia, and electrical injuries
  • Crush injuries or deformities in long bones
  • Back pain

Treatments of Rhabdomyolysis

  • Oral or IV hydration to flush myoglobin out of the kidneys to restore their function.

Diagnosis of Rhabdomyolysis

  • Physical exam
  • Electro cardiogram (EKG)
  • Complete blood count (CBC), including hemoglobin, hematocrit, and platelets
  • Urine myoglobin
  • Serum chemistries
  • Prothrombin time (PT)
  • Activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT)
  • Serum aldolase
  • Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH)
  • Cardiac troponin 1
  • Creatine kinase (most reliable and sensitive indicator of muscle injury)
  • Urine myoglobin
  • Electromyography

Natural

Drinking liquids to re-hydrate the body

Medical

IV hydration

Complications of Rhabdomyolysis

Morbidity rates increase dramatically when the following are aspects of the syndrome.

  • Alcohol use and resultant unresponsiveness
  • Illicit drug use
  • Use of prescribed medications
  • Heatstroke
  • Infection
  • Trauma
  • Metabolic disorders
  • Inflammatory myopathies
  • Shock
[2]

The Dangers & Health Risks of Rhabdomyolysis

Morbidity Rate

Prognosis is dependant of the severity of the clinical damage. Most people who suffer renal failure as a result of rhabdomyolysis recover with minor kidney damage; some receive dialysis for up to three weeks. The survivial rate for rhabdomyolysis-induced kidney failure is 87.6%[3]

More Rhabdomyolysis Sections

  • Viual Explanation of Muscle Breakdown Due to Rhabdomyolysis, By Dr. Carlo A. Oller here.

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