When you have rhabdomyolysis (say "rab-doh-my-AH-luh-suss"), dying muscle cells cause toxins to build up in the blood. If not treated, it can cause life-threatening damage to the body's organs.
It can be caused by many things, such as severe muscle injury, some medicines (like statins), the flu, and certain blood infections.
Symptoms may include weak muscles, pain, stiffness, fever, and nausea. Your urine may also be dark.
You will get treatment in the hospital. If possible, the doctor will stop the cause of muscle cell death. The doctor will take steps to protect your organs. You may have to stop taking certain medicines if they are the cause of the problem.
You will also get treatment to help the kidneys remove the toxins from your blood. This includes plenty of fluids. You may get fluids through a vein (by I.V.). You may also need dialysis.
Rhabdomyolysis is a process in which dying muscle cells cause the toxic buildup of certain substances in the blood. Some of these substances are creatine, myoglobin, aldolase, potassium, and lactate dehydrogenase. Left untreated, rhabdomyolysis can cause life-threatening damage to body organs, including kidney failure.
Rhabdomyolysis can be caused by a variety of problems, including a severe muscle injury, certain medicines, toxins, or infections.
Early symptoms are often subtle. Muscle weakness, pain, tenderness, and stiffness may develop along with fever, nausea, confusion, and a general ill feeling (malaise). Urine may also be noticeably dark.
Treatment for rhabdomyolysis includes removing the cause of the muscle cell destruction whenever possible, such as by stopping certain medicines. Measures to help the kidneys remove the buildup of toxins and other chemicals, such as providing plenty of fluids, is also important. Other treatment (such as dialysis) may be needed if rhabdomyolysis is severe.
Early symptoms are often hard to notice. Symptoms include:
Most people need to be treated in the hospital. If possible, the doctor will stop the cause of muscle cell death. The doctor will take steps to protect your organs. You may have to stop taking certain medicines if they are the cause of the problem.
You will also get treatment to help the kidneys remove the toxins from your blood. This includes getting plenty of fluids. You may get fluids through a vein (by I.V.). If your kidneys are badly damaged, you may also need dialysis.
You can take steps to help prevent rhabdomyolysis from coming back.
If you have kidney, heart, or liver disease and have to limit fluids, talk with your doctor before you increase the amount of fluids you drink.
Your doctor will ask questions about your symptoms and past health and do a physical exam. The diagnosis is confirmed with blood and urine tests.
Rhabdomyolysis (say "rab-doh-my-AH-luh-suss") is a rare but serious muscle problem. When you have it, your muscle cells break down, or dissolve. The contents of those cells leak into the blood. When it's in the blood, that material can travel to various parts of the body and cause problems.
If left untreated, this condition can be life-threatening. But when it's treated right away, most people make a full recovery.
Rhabdomyolysis can be caused by a variety of problems, such as:
This might be caused by prolonged pressure on muscle tissue, heat exhaustion, extreme physical exertion, seizures, or electrical burns.
Medicines that can cause this problem include statins, colchicine, phenytoin, and some dietary supplements.
Toxins are substances that are poisonous, such as alcohol, cocaine, hornet stings, snakebite, and carbon monoxide.
This includes salmonella, the flu, Legionnaires' disease, and some blood infections.
Call your doctor now or seek immediate medical care if:
Watch closely for changes in your health, and be sure to contact your doctor if you do not get better as expected.
©2011-2024 Healthwise, Incorporated