Exercise-induced acute renal failure in a trainee cyclist without hypouricemia: Successful athletic career post-treatment

Abstract

Acute renal failure with severe loin pain and patchy renal ischemia after anaerobic exercise (ALPE) is exercise-induced acute renal failure that occurs without myoglobinuria. We describe a typical case involving an 18-year-old man. Generally, patients with ALPE are advised to avoid anaerobic exercise due to risk of recurrence, but our patient continued and went on to become a professional cyclist without relapse. About 51% of ALPE cases involve patients with renal hypouricemia. His serum uric acid levels were rather high, at 6.4 mg/dL. He is the first patient with ALPE to succeed as a professional athlete in an anaerobic sport.