A case of rhabdomyolysis associated with influenza A viral infection given an useful early diagnosis by Tc-99m bone agent scintigraphy

Abstract

Rhabdomyolysis is a syndrome resulting from skeletal muscle injury with release of muscle cell contents into the plasma. It is often associated with alcohol abuse, muscle compression and generalized seizure. It may also follow viral infections like influenza. Tecnetium-99m phosphate compounds are useful for bone scintigraphy. But proper interpretation of this bone agent scintigrams must include careful analysis of extraskeletal accumulations, such as cerebrospinal lesions, carcinoma, acute myocardial infarction, myocarditis and inflammatory myopathy. This case was a 74-year-old female who developed rhabdomyolysis associated with influenza A viral infection. We report the usefulness of Tecnetium-99m phosphate scintigraphy for early diagnosis, location and extent of the muscle damage of viral induced rhabdomyolysis.