Rhabdomyolysis is Result of Skeletal Muscle Injury Caused by Drugs (and Other Things)

The number of drug-induced rhabdomyolysis adverse event reports submitted to the FDA is rising, seemingly due to the introduction to market of more and increasingly potent prescription drugs in recent years.

The actual total number of cases of drug-induced rhabdomyolysis is difficult to ascertain, largely because most adverse drug events go unreported to the FDA MedWatch program, which monitors drug safety issues.

Rhabdomyolysis is also caused by these various conditions:

• muscle trauma (for instance, from vigorous exercise, crush injuries, battering, or seizures),
• inadequate blood perfusion,
• heat stroke,
• electrolyte imbalance,
• hereditary enzyme deficiencies, infections,
• myotoxic drugs, such as cocaine and alcohol. 

Significantly, about 10% to 40% of patients diagnosed with rhabdomyolysis (or rhabdo, for short) go on to develop acute renal failure (ARF).  Some patients may need dialysis, and the condition can be fatal.

(Posted by: Tom Lamb)