Acute kidney injury due to rhabdomyolysis followed by alcohol intake and physical aggression: Case report and literature review

Abstract

Rhabdomyolysis is defined as a skeletal muscle injury, with subsequent release of cellular constituents into the extracellular fluid and the circulation. Several conditions can lead to rhabdomyolysis, and new causes are constantly expanded with new case reports. The aim of this paper is to report on a case of acute kidney injury (AKI) induced by rhabdomyolysis due to alcohol abuse and physical agression. A 48-year-old man was admitted to the emergency room with dyspnea, lower limbs edema, weakness, oliguria and dark brown urine. Four days before admission he was physically attacked, after drinking almost 2.5 liters of beer. The diagnosis of AKI due to rhabdomyolysis was made through clinical and laboratory findings (creatine kinase 184,376 IU/l, serum urea 275 mg/dL, creatinine 14.6 mg/ dL, potassium 7.9 mEq/L). Urgency hemodyalisis was started due to anuria, refractory hiperkalemia and hypercatabolism. Recovery of renal function was recorded, after fourteen hemodialysis sessions. Patients with rhabdomyolysis are common in the emergency room. Initial therapy of fluid replacement is essential to prevent progression to renal failure. Once established, the dialysis is indicated early. The prognosis is good, when early supportive therapy is adequate.