Hypokalemic rhabdomyolysis associated with Bartter's syndrome.

Severe potassium deficiency is an uncommon cause of rhabdomyolysis. We recently treated a 45-year-old patient with myalgia, serious generalized weakness, increased serum creatine kinase and myoglobin level as well as excessive hypokalemia. Histological examination of deltoid muscle biopsy showed rhabdomyolysis. After complete recovery of muscle damage by potassium substitution Bartter's syndrome proved to be the cause of initial and persistent hypokalemia.