1. mIni Lecture Richard Jin PGY-2 2/23/15
Rhabdomyolysis
mIni Lecture
Richard Jin
PGY-2
2/23/15

2. Case Presentation
47 y/o M with pmh HTN, ETOH dependency complains of passing out, feeling lethargic, and muscle aches. Upon further questioning the pt admits to doing a large dose of crystal meth and losing consciousness.
Vitals: Afebrile, hemodynamically stable.
Labs (pertinent):
BMP:Creatinine 2.9 (baseline 0.8), potassium 5.1, otherwise normal.
CBC: normal
Serum CK: 28,000
U/A: Myoglobin present
Ask the listeners what they think is going on, what is the ddx, and how they would proceed next.

3. Objectives Identify causes of rhabdomyolysis
Describe signs and symptoms
How make the diagnosis
Review medical management strategies for rhabdomyolysis
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4. Rhabdomyolysis
Breakdown of muscle fibers, specifically of the sarcolemma of skeletal muscle, resulting in release of myoglobin.
Released myoglobin may cause acute kidney injury or ultimately renal failure.
Shift of extracellular fluid into injured muscles resulting in underperfusion of the kidneys.

5. Rhabdomyolysis
There are many clinical manifestations of rhabdomyolysis. These include electrolyte abnormalities such as hypocalemia, hyperphosphatemia, hyperkalemia, hyperuricemia. In addition, the main muscle breakdown product, myoglobin can lead to AKI and ultimately renal failure.
Important to point out that the myoglobin leads to pigment nephropathy (pointing down towards the kidney)

6. Causes (Muscle Breakdown)
RHABDOMYOLYSIS
Nontraumatic
Traumatic/Compression
Multiple Trauma
Crush Injury
Surgery
Coma
Immobilization
Exertional
Nonexertional
There are several causes of rhabdomyolysis attributable to muscle breakdown. These can be broken down into traumatic and nontraumatic causes. Nontraumatic causes can be further broken down into exertional and nonexertional causes.
-Exertion
-Heat illness
-Seizures
-Metabolic myopathies
-Malignant hyperthermia
-Neuroleptic Malignant
Syndrome
-ETOH
-Drugs
-Infection
-Electrolytes

7. Causes (Metabolic)
Often, when we think about rhabdomyolysis we think first and foremost about muscle breakdown. We need to keep in mind metabolic myopathies in our differential diagnosis to ensure we are not missing anything.

8. Clinical Signs and Symptoms
“Triad”: Muscle pain, weakness, dark urine
Fatigue
Joint pain
Seizures
AKI
Compartment syndrome
Disseminated intravascular coagulation

9. Laboratory Findings Creatine kinase: >5x ULN (1500-100,000)
Rises within 2 to 12 hours following the onset of muscle injury and reaches its maximum within 24 to 72 hours. A decline is usually seen within three to five days of cessation of muscle injury1,2.
Myoglobinuria
Hyperkalemia
Hyperphosphatemia
Hypocalcemia
Hyperuricemia

10. Diagnosis Elevation in serum creatine kinase (> 5x ULN)
+ acute neuromuscular illness or dark urine without any other symptoms.
Generally not required:
Muscle biopsy
Electromyography
Magnetic resonance imaging

11. Management Treat underlying cause.
Early aggressive fluid resuscitation.
Electrolyte replacement.
Alkalinization of urine?
Fasciotomy.
When rhabodmyolysis is susptect, aggressive fluid resuscitation is warranted to prevent kidney damage. In addition we must make sure to correct any electrolyte abnormalities that occur with rhabdomyolysis. Alkalinization of urine to promote diuresis is a controversial topic we will touch on later. If the pt has suspected compartment syndrome from muscle breakdown a fasciotomy may be necessary which is a surgical emergency.

12. Fluid Resuscitation Optimal fluid and rate of repletion are unclear.
No studies comparing efficacy/safety of different types and rate of fluid administration.

13. Algorithm Isotonic Saline Titrate IVF Stop Treatment CK>5000
-Initial Resuscitation: 1-2 L/hr
ml/hr (if hemolysis
induced injury)
-Correct electrolyte abnormalities
Titrate IVF
UOP goal: ml/hr
Serial CK measurements
Keep in mind, volume status. Though initial volume resuscitation is warranted, maintaining volume status is equally important. The keys here that one wants to achieve are hemodynamic stability and adequate urine output.
CK<5000
Stop Treatment

14. Bicarbonate Bicarbonate: Forced alkaline diuresis
May reduce renal heme toxicity
May also decrease the release of free iron from myoglobin, the formation of vasoconstricting F2-isoprostanes, and the risk for tubular precipitation of uric acid3,4
 No clear clinical evidence that an alkaline diuresis is more effective than a saline diuresis in preventing AKI5. 

15. Mannitol, Dialysis Mannitol: Forced diuresis Dialysis
May minimize intratubular heme pigment deposition and cast formation, and/or by acting as a free radical scavenger, thereby minimizing cell injury6,7.
 Net clinical benefit of remains uncertain, and, therefore, not routinely administered.
Dialysis
Use of dialysis to remove myoglobin, hemoglobin, or uric acid in order to prevent the development of renal injury has not been demonstrated8.

16. Back to the Patient
Aggressive fluid resuscitation started. Bolused normal saline x 3 Liters in the ED.
Maintained on normal saline 200cc/hr with matching urine output of 200cc/hr.
Serial CK measurements (8 hrs apart: 28k  33k  38k 30k  24k  18k 5k).
After 4 days in the hospital pt’s renal function recovered and was discharged home.

17. Conclusion
When rhabdomyolysis is suspected aggressive fluid resuscitation should started to prevent pigment nephropathy.
Titrate to UOP cc/hr.
The use of bicarbonate, mannitol, and dialysis: net clinical benefit has not been shown.

18. References
1. Huerta-Alardín AL, Varon J, Marik PE. Bench-to-bedside review: Rhabdomyolysis -- an overview for clinicians. Crit Care 2005; 9:158.
2. Khan FY. Rhabdomyolysis: a review of the literature. Neth J Med 2009; 67:272.
3. Melli G, Chaudhry V, Cornblath DR. Rhabdomyolysis: an evaluation of 475 hospitalized patients. Medicine (Baltimore) 2005; 84:377.
4. Vanholder R, Sever MS, Erek E, Lameire N. Rhabdomyolysis. J Am Soc Nephrol 2000; 11:1553.
5. Huerta-Alardín AL, Varon J, Marik PE. Bench-to-bedside review: Rhabdomyolysis -- an overview for clinicians. Crit Care 2005; 9:158.
6. Zager RA. Combined mannitol and deferoxamine therapy for myohemoglobinuric renal injury and oxidant tubular stress. Mechanistic and therapeutic implications. J Clin Invest 1992; 90:711.
7. Odeh M. The role of reperfusion-induced injury in the pathogenesis of the crush syndrome. N Engl J Med 1991; 324:1417.
8. Holt S, Moore K. Pathogenesis of renal failure in rhabdomyolysis: the role of myoglobin. Exp Nephrol 2000; 8:72.