First Lady Michelle Obama shares tips on parenting with moms and other audience members in a WebMD Town Hall meeting in Miami, Florida.
Information and Resources
Rhabdomyolysis
Rhabdomyolysis is a serious syndrome due to a direct or indirect muscle injury. It results from a breakdown of muscle fibers and release of their contents into the bloodstream. This can lead to complications such as kidney (renal) failure. This occurs when the kidneys cannot remove waste and concentrate urine. In rare cases, rhabdomyolysis can even cause death. However, prompt treatment often brings a good outcome. Here's what you need to know about rhabdomyolysis.
Rhabdomyolysis Causes
There are many causes of rhabdomyolysis. The most common causes include:
- Use of alcohol or illegal drugs such as cocaine or amphetamines
- Extreme muscle strain, especially in someone who is an untrained athlete
- Crush injury such as from an auto accident, fall, or building collapse
- Long-lasting muscle compression such as that caused by lying unconscious on a hard surface during illness or while under the influence of alcohol or medication
- Use of medications such as corticosteroids or statins, especially when given in high doses
Other rhabdomyolysis causes include:
- Electrical shock injury, lightning strike, or third-degree burn
- Very high body temperature (hyperthermia) or heat stroke
- Seizures
- Metabolic disorder such as ketoacidosis
- Disease of the muscles (myopathy) such as congenital muscle enzyme deficiency or Duchenne's muscular dystrophy
- Viral infection such as the flu, HIV, or herpes simplex virus
- Bacterial infection leading to toxins in tissues or the bloodstream (sepsis)
A previous history of rhabdomyolysis also increases your risk of having rhabodomyolysis once again.
Rhabdomyolysis Signs and Symptoms
Signs and symptoms of rhabdomyolysis may be hard to pinpoint. This is largely true because the course of rhabdomyolysis varies, depending on its cause. And, symptoms may occur in one area of the body or affect the whole body. Also, complications may occur in early and later stages.
The following are common signs and symptoms of rhabdomyolysis:
- Painful, swollen, bruised, or tender areas of the body
- Muscle weakness or trouble moving arms or legs
- General feeling of illness
- Nausea or vomiting
- Confusion, dehydration, fever, or lack of consciousness
- Dark-colored urine; reduced or no urine output
Blood and urine tests can help diagnose rhabdomyolysis. Other tests may rule out other problems, confirm the cause of rhabdomyolysis, or check for complications.
Early complications of rhabdomyolysis may include very high levels of potassium in the blood. This can lead to an irregular heartbeat or cardiac arrest. About one in four also develop problems with the liver. Later, rhabdomyolysis can also lead to kidney failure. This occurs in about 15% of patients. A condition called compartment syndrome may also occur either early or later. This serious compression of nerves, blood vessels, and muscles can cause tissue damage and problems with blood flow.
Rhabdomyolysis Treatments
Early diagnosis and treatment of rhabdomyolysis are keys to a successful outcome. You can expect full recovery with prompt treatment. Doctors can even reverse kidney failure. However, if compartment syndrome is not treated early enough, it may cause lasting damage.
If you have rhabdomyolysis, you will be admitted to the hospital to receive treatment for the cause of rhabdomyolysis. You may need to be in the intensive care unit (ICU) to allow close monitoring. Treatment with intravenous (IV) fluids helps prevent kidney failure.
You will need ongoing treatment to maintain urine production. If kidney failure occurs, you will need filtering of waste products using dialysis. You may also need a surgical procedure (fasciotomy) to relieve tension or pressure and loss of circulation if it threatens muscle death or nerve damage in cases of compartment syndrome.
If rhabdomyolysis is related to a medical condition, such as diabetes or a thyroid disorder, appropriate treatment for the medical condition will be needed. And if rhabdomyolysis is related to a medication or drug, its use will need to be stopped or replaced with an alternative.
After treatment, discuss with your doctor any needed limitations on diet or activity. And, of course, avoid any potential causes of rhabdomyolysis in the future.
WebMD Medical Reference
Reviewed by
Louise Chang, MD on September 14, 2010
© 2010 WebMD, LLC. All rights reserved.
Top 12 Health Topics-
1.
-
2.
-
3.
-
4.
-
5.
-
6.
-
7.
-
8.
-
9.
-
10.
-
11.
-
12.
Top 12 Videos-
1.
-
2.
-
3.
-
4.
-
5.
-
6.
-
7.
-
8.
-
9.
-
10.
-
11.
-
12.
Hot Topics
- Which Drugstore Tooth Whiteners Work Best?
- Kids' Top 6 Worries and How to Fix Them
- Surprising Headache Triggers
- Safe Ways to Lose Weight Fast
- Counting Carbs When You Use Insulin
- Fibromyalgia: Symptoms and Treatments
- CML: How It Affects Your Body
- 6 Sex Mistakes Men Make
- Dupuytren's Contracture: What You Need to Know
- Symptoms of Vitamin B12 Deficiency
WebMD Video: Now Playing
FROM CBS NEWS
Third of malaria meds from Asia, Africa are fake
Almost half of malaria medications in southeast Asia and over a third from sub-Saharan Africa were packaged poorly, including some expired drugs that had been repackaged
More from CBS News:
Health Solutions From Our Sponsors
Advertise With Us|WebMD Corporate|Medscape Reference|eMedicineHealth|RxList|Medscape|MedicineNet|BootsWebMD
©2005-2012 WebMD, LLC. All rights reserved.
WebMD does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. See additional information.