CONCLUSION Patients with rhabdomyolysis may present with muscle aches, darkened urine, and/or weakness; an elevated CPK level confirms the diagnosis. Management is mainly conservative, with IV hydration accompanied by alkalinizing the urine and correcting any metabolic abnormalities, such as potassium deficiencies. For the few patients who experience severe acute kidney injury, renal replacement therapy may be necessary.
While most causes of rhabdomyolysis have obvious clinical scenarios, such as a crush injury, a search for muscle enzyme deficiencies, disorders of potassium homeostasis, and thyroid abnormalities is also warranted in patients who present with exertional rhabdomyolysis.
