Exertional rhabdomyolysis causing acute renal failure

Abstract

Traumatic rhabdomyolysis causing myoglobinuria and acute renal failure (ARF) was initially described in 1941 in soldiers with multiple crush injuries during Second World War [1]. Since then several non-traumatic conditions leading to rhabdomyolysis and myoglobinuric renal failure have been recognized [2, 3]. Excessive muscular activity is increasingly recognized as a common and preventable cause of rhabdomyolysis. Strenuous and exhaustive exercise, especially in unconditioned men (so called ‘white collar rhabdomyolysis’) can result in major morbidity from hyperkalemia, metabolic acidosis, disseminated intravascular coagulation, adult respiratory distress syndrome and rhabdomyolysis [4]. Though rhabdomyolysis following severe physical exertion with or without heat stress may result in ARF, it is rare [5]. We report a case of exertional rhabdomyolysis complicated by ARF in a healthy individual who was well acclimatized to physical exertion and with no evidence of heat stress.