Rhabdomyolysis updated

Abstract

Rhabdomyolysis constitutes a common cause of acute renal failure and presents paramount interest. A large variety of causes with different pathogenetic mechanisms can involve skeletal muscles resulting in rhabdomyolysis with or without acute renal failure. Crush syndrome, one of the most common causes of rhabdomyolysis presents increased clinical interest, particularly in areas often involved by earthquakes, such as Greece and Turkey. Drug abusers are another sensitive group of young patients prone to rhabdomyolysis, which attracts the clinical interest of a variety of medical specialties. We herein review the evidence extracted from updated literature concerning the data related to pathogenetic mechanisms and pathophysiology as well as the management of this interesting syndrome.

Keywords: Rhabdomyolysis; acute renal failure; crush syndrome; myoglobin.

Figure 1.. The skeletal muscle fibre (from ref. 3)

Figure 2.. (A) the iron-containing porphyrin ring, (B) myoglobin, (C) hemoglobin (From ref. 17)

Figure 3.. Pathophysiology of ARF in rhabdomyolysis (From ref. 2)

Figure 4.. Dark urine due to the presence of myoglobin (From ref. 17)

Figure 5.. Compartment syndrome and fasciotomy incisions. 1. Normal anatomy of the right calf 2. Compartment syndrome 3. Fasciotomy incisions