acute

Rhabdomyolysis

Rhabdomyolysis is a condition in which damaged muscle breaks down rapidly. Symptoms may include muscle pains, weakness, vomiting, and confusion. There may be tea-colored urine or an irregular heartbeat. Some of the muscle breakdown products, such as the myoglobin, are harmful to the kidneys and can cause acute kidney injury.

Underlined words are explained — tap any of them.

Symptoms — what it feels like

·Muscle pains, weakness, vomiting, confusion, tea-colored urine, irregular heartbeat

Causes — why it happens

·Crush injury, strenuous exercise, medications, substance use, certain

How it's found

·Blood test (creatine kinase), urine test strip

Treatment

· fluids, dialysis, hemofiltration

Complications

·Kidney failure, high blood , low blood calcium, disseminated intravascular coagulation, compartment

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Plain-language summary adapted from Wikipedia. Not medical advice.