Rhabdomyolysis. The role of diagnostic and prognostic factors

Rhabdomyolysis, literally meaning the breakdown of muscle tissue, is a common syndrome with many causes, acquired ones such as exertion, trauma, infections, temperature extremes, drugs, toxins, electrolyte and endocrine abnormalities, and congenital ones such as myopathies and connective tissue disorders. All results in a common pathophysiologic pathway which ends with the dispersing of muscle tissue content into the circulation. Rhabdomyolysis has characteristic clinical, laboratory and radiologic features, but does require a high index of suspicion so that the diagnosis would not be missed. The sensitivity and specificity of the various characteristics, as well as clinical guidelines, are discussed in this paper. The syndrome may present with several complications, e.g. arrhythmias, electrolyte abnormalities, acute renal injury, acidosis, volume depletion, compartment syndrome and disseminated intravascular coagulation. The prognosis is highly variable and depends on the underlying etiologies and complications, but is in general considered as good. The milestone of treatment is vigorous fluid resuscitation. Treatment options, in practice and in research, are discussed in the following pages.