Rhabdomyolysis

Rhabdomyolysis, which is an acute and potentially fatal clinical syndrome, reflects the dissolution and disintegration of striated muscle, with the release of muscle cell contents into the systemic circulation. Myoglobinemia and myoglobinuria are common sequelae. Other substances released from affected muscle cells (e.g., calcium, potassium) can cause systemic effects. Prerenal azotemia, complicated by the toxicity of free myoglobin on the renal tubules, may lead to acute kidney injury, which exacerbates other metabolic abnormalities. At the extreme, arrhythmias, caused by the release of intracellular potassium and organic acids, coupled with hypocalcemia may be fatal.