RHABDOMYOLYSIS - A REVIEW OF THE LITERATURE

Rhabdomyolysis (lysis of skeletal muscle cells) is a potentially letha l syndrome with a broad spectrum of clinical and biochemical findings. Myalgia, pigmenturia and elevated activity of serum creatine kinase a re the common features. Fulminant rhabdomyolysis may be associated wit h severe metabolic disturbances and involvement of other organ systems . Cardiac arrest, compartment syndrome and acute renal failure are the major complications. The extent of the life-threatening complications of rhabdomyolysis strongly depends on early diagnosis and adequate th erapy. As the repair mechanism of striated muscle functions very well, the prognosis of adequately treated rhabdomyolysis is excellent. This article reviews the present state of knowledge of clinical and bioche mical diagnosis of rhabdomyolysis, the pathophysiologic background, th e classification and the etiological provocative factors.