Suspected Levetiracetam-Induced Acute Rhabdomyolysis in a Patient With Retinoblastoma: A Case Report and Literature Review

Abstract

Rhabdomyolysis is a condition characterized by the destruction of the skeletal muscle and the release of its content into the circulation, and it can cause acute kidney injury (AKI). There are numerous causes for the development of this condition, and some of them are rare. Levetiracetam, an antiepileptic agent, has been speculated as a rare possibility for the development of rhabdomyolysis. In this report, we highlight a case of a 36-year-old gentleman with retinoblastoma since childhood, who was maintained on levetiracetam for two years for epilepsy. He was brought to our hospital with a history of generalized fatigue and unwitnessed seizure. Upon further investigations, he was found to have severe rhabdomyolysis and AKI that required renal replacement therapy. Levetiracetam was suspected as a culprit and therefore was discontinued with gradual improvement of renal function over a few months.