A 45-minute spinning class induced severe exertional rhabdomyolysis and acute kidney injury in a healthy 22-year-old male, which resolved after eight days of intravenous hydration.
Case Report (n=1)
This case highlights that severe exercise-induced rhabdomyolysis with acute kidney injury can occur even in young patients with minimal risk factors.
Rhabdomyolysis is a condition resulting from skeletal muscle breakdown that can present in several ways, ranging from no symptoms to a life threatening renal disorder. A variety of insults, including trauma, toxins, drugs, infections, and exercise, can lead to muscle breakdown. Complications include compartment syndrome, electrolyte imbalance, and cardiac arrest. Rhabdomyolysis is a clinical challenge due to the range of its presentations. We report a 22-year-old male college student who came to the emergency department with mild thigh soreness and dark urine. A full work-up showed his serum creatine kinase was significantly elevated to 178,786 U/L and he had acute kidney injury. Our patient had no toxin or drug exposure, no infection, no trauma, and no crush injuries, but he had attended a 45-minute spinning class several days prior to admission, indicating a case of exercise-induced exertional rhabdomyolysis. He was hospitalized and treated with IV hydration to protect his kidneys. After eight days of conservative treatment with IV fluids, the patient’s creatine kinase level normalized. This case illustrates that even patients with minimal risk factors for rhabdomyolysis can present with severe kidney injury requiring prolonged hospitalization.
Angela Rao (Wed,) conducted a case report in Exercise-induced exertional rhabdomyolysis (n=1). Spinning class was evaluated on Serum creatine kinase level and renal function. A 45-minute spinning class induced severe exertional rhabdomyolysis and acute kidney injury in a healthy 22-year-old male, which resolved after eight days of intravenous hydration.