A 19-year-old male with COVID-19 developed severe rhabdomyolysis with an initial creatine kinase level of 20,310 IU/L, which successfully resolved following aggressive intravenous fluid resuscitation.
Case Report (n=1)
Rhabdomyolysis can be an initial extrapulmonary manifestation of COVID-19, highlighting the importance of checking CK levels in suspected patients presenting with myalgias and generalized weakness to prevent acute renal failure.
Rhabdomyolysis is caused by necrosis of muscles and leakage of intracellular contents into blood circulation. It is most commonly caused by trauma, crush injuries, drugs, toxins, immobilization, compartment syndrome, prolonged surgical procedures, and less likely by infections. Infection-related rhabdomyolysis is rare, but not uncommon, and is seen in both viral and bacterial infections. Extrapulmonary manifestations of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) include thrombotic like pulmonary emboli, acute cerebrovascular accident, myocardial infarction, cardiac arrhythmias, liver injury, gangrene, diarrhea, acute renal failure, and so on. We here describe a case of COVID-19-induced rhabdomyolysis in a 19-year-old Hispanic male presenting with muscle aches, fatigue, fevers, and no pulmonary symptoms.
Meegada et al. (Sat,) conducted a case report in COVID-19 induced rhabdomyolysis (n=1). Intravenous fluid resuscitation was evaluated. A 19-year-old male with COVID-19 developed severe rhabdomyolysis with an initial creatine kinase level of 20,310 IU/L, which successfully resolved following aggressive intravenous fluid resuscitation.