A case of rhabdomyolysis in chronic renal failure.

Rhabdomyolysis can be induced by a variety of physical and chemical insults to skeletal muscle. Though there are only a few reports of myositis associated with viral diseases, and no reported cases of virus-induced rhabdomyolysis in uremic patients. Chronic uremic states have been known to potentiate a variety of metabolic and immunological abnormalities. Present case had an acute, progressive and fatal rhabdomyolysis which was thought to be induced by virus infection. A 43-year-old man had received hemodialysis therapy for 8 years. He suffered from an upper respiratory tract infection 11 days before admission. On admission, he was diagnosed as rhabdomyolysis with severe lactic acidosis and marked hyperkalemia. Although intensive care had been performed, he died of uncontrollable hyperkalemia (10.0 mEq/L) 2 days after admission. Maximum CPK and GOT levels were 105,200 and 56,800 mU/ml, respectively. Most probable cause of rhabdomyolysis was thought to be Parainfluenza type-3 infection, though histological examination failed to prove virus infection.