Saturday, February, 11, 2012

Rhabdomyolysis

Table of Contents

Symptoms
  • Abnormal urine color (dark, red, or cola colored)
  • General weakness
  • Muscle stiffness or aching (myalgia)
  • Muscle tenderness
  • Weakness of the affected muscles

Additional symptoms that may be associated with this disease include the following:

  • Fatigue
  • Joint pain
  • Seizures
  • Weight gain (unintentional)

Signs and tests

An examination reveals tender or damaged skeletal muscles.

  • CPK is very high.
  • Serum myoglobin test is positive.
  • Serum potassium may be very high
  • Urinalysis may reveal casts and be positive for hemoglobin without evidence of red blood cells on microscopic examination.
  • Urine myoglobin test is positive.

This disease may also alter the results of the following tests:

  • CPK isoenzymes
  • Urine creatinine
  • Serum creatinine

Review Date: 08/13/2009
Reviewed By: Parul Patel, MD, Private Practice specializing in Nephrology and Kidney and Pancreas Transplantation, Affiliated with California Pacific Medical Center, Department of Transplantation, San Francisco, CA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org)