Rhabdomyolysis is a health condition characterized by the rapid breakdown of skeletal muscle fibers. As a result, it causes myoglobin, enzymes and electrolytes to be released from inside muscle cells and out to your bloodstream.
Myoglobin is toxic to kidneys, the site for filtering it out of your body. Thus, it frequently causes kidney damage or failure. This is main reason it’s vital to have rhabdomyolysis treated right away with fluid hydration.
So what are rhabdomyolysis health clues? The primary symptom is dark, red-brown or cola urine color, coupled with muscle breakdown evidence. This can involve:
- fatigue
- myalgia
- muscle tenderness
- exercise intolerance
- affected muscle weakness
Health symptoms beyond your dark urine and muscle problems may include:
- shock
- seizures
- arthralgia
- low blood pressure
- nausea & vomiting
- reduced urine output
- palpitations, arrhythmias
- unintentional weight gain
- hyperkalemia, hyperphosphatemia, hypocalcemia electrolyte imbalances
Rhabdomyolysis coincides with muscle injury, that may be caused by a variety of environmental conditions, underlying disease, infection and drugs. Some direct causes and risk factors are:
- coma
- lupus
- sepsis
- seizures
- alcoholism
- shaking chills
- near drowning
- severe asthma
- severe dystonia
- sickle cell anemia
- McArdle syndrome
- diabetic ketoacidosis
- severe hypothyroidism
- heavy metal poisoning
- malignant hyperthermia
- hypothermia, hyperthermia
- carbon monoxide poisoning
- heat intolerance, heatstroke
- thrombosis, embolism, DVT
- excessive vomiting, diarrhea
- hereditary enzyme problems
- certain snake, spider bite venom
- deep, extensive 3rd degree burns
- physical activity when dehydrated
- aspirin, diuretic, caffeine overdose
- metabolic, mitchondrial myopathies
- significant blunt trauma, crush injury
- alcohol withdrawal ~ delirium tremens
- myositis, polymyositis, dermatomyositis
- low phosphate, potassium, magnesium blood levels
- extreme exertion, strenuous exercise ~ marathon running, mountain climbing
Some drugs, legal or not, can be a cause for rhabdomyolysis, such as
- colchicine ~ gout
- high dose of statins ~ high cholesterol
- cocaine, amphetamines, heroin, PCP, ecstasy
- Parkinson’s, psychiatric, anesthesia, HIV medications
Certain virus, bacteria and parasite infections may cause rhabdomyolysis too, like:
- HIV
- vibrio
- listeria
- bacillus
- candida
- brucella
- rickettsia
- legionella
- leptospira
- aspergillus
- plasmodium
- mycoplasma
- coxsackievirus
- West Nile virus
- cytomegalovirus
- Ebstein-Barr virus
- parainfluenza virus
- borrelia burgdorferi
- varicella-zoster virus
- francisella tularensis
- herpes simplex virus
- echovirus, adenovirus
- escherichia coli, salmonella
- staphylococcus epidermidis
- clostridium tetani, perfringens
- influenza types A & B (most common)
- streptococcus pneumonia, group B streptococci
Aggressive fluid hydrating treatment is used to rapidly flush damaging myoglobin out of your kidneys. In some cases, diuretics and sodium bicarbonate are used as well.
If treatment by fluid hydration proves insufficient, then a blood transfusion or dialysis may be needed.
Excessive exercise is the common culprit of rhabdomyolysis. Therefore, for the health of your muscles gradually increase your activity, particularly in high temperature and humidity. And keep a steady flow of hydration fluid going to prevent dehydration.
