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. 2002 May;95(5):542-4.

Rhabdomyolysis of infectious and noninfectious causes

José Ramón Blanco  1 , Marta Zabalza, Javier Salcedo, Lorenzo Echeverria, Ana García, Manuel Vallejo
Affiliations
  • PMID: 12005014

Rhabdomyolysis of infectious and noninfectious causes

José Ramón Blanco et al. South Med J. 2002 May.

Abstract

Background: This study was done to determine variables associated with infectious rhabdomyolysis (IRM).

Methods: In this retrospective case-control study, rhabdomyolysis (RM) was defined as a fivefold or greater elevation in creatine kinase (CK) levels with a muscle/brain (MB) fraction <5%. Patients with myocardial infarction or cerebrovascular accident or a recent history of surgery, trauma, or immobilization were excluded.

Results: We analyzed 52 cases of RM seen at our institution between 1992 and 2000; IRM was the most frequent cause (31%), most commonly respiratory tract infections (38%). When a microorganism could be identified (50%), it was more often gram-negative (63%). Patients with IRM were elderly and had fever and lower CK levels. Infectious rhabdomyolysis was associated with a higher morbidity but not with a higher risk of death.

Conclusions: Infectious rhabdomyolysis is the main cause of RM and must be suspected in elderly patients with fever and low levels of CK.

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