Rhabdomyolysis and Acute Kidney Injury

The causes of acute rhabdomyolysis include trauma, drugs, toxins, and certain infections. Acute kidney injury is a dangerous complication of severe rhabdomyolysis. This review summarizes current views on the pathogenesis of myoglobin-induced kidney injury as well as on its prevention and treatment. Acute kidney injury is a dangerous complication of severe rhabdomyolysis. This review summarizes current views on the pathogenesis of myoglobin-induced kidney injury as well as on its prevention and treatment. Rhabdomyolysis — literally, the dissolution of striped (skeletal) muscle — is characterized by the leakage of muscle-cell contents, including electrolytes, myoglobin, and other sarcoplasmic proteins (e.g., creatine kinase, aldolase, lactate dehydrogenase, alanine aminotransferase, and aspartate aminotransferase) into the circulation. Massive necrosis, which is manifested as limb weakness, myalgia, swelling, and, commonly, gross pigmenturia without hematuria, is the common denominator of both traumatic and nontraumatic rhabdomyolysis. 1 , 2 Acute kidney injury is a potential complication of severe rhabdomyolysis, regardless of whether the rhabdomyolysis is the result of trauma or some other cause, and the prognosis is substantially worse if renal failure develops. . . .