Acute Renal Failure due to Rhabdomyolysis Caused by Hypokalemia

• Main Authors: Ghacha Reda, Sinha Ajit
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications 2001-01-01
• Series: Saudi Journal of Kidney Diseases and Transplantation
• Online Access: http://www.sjkdt.org/article.asp?issn=1319-2442;year=2001;volume=12;issue=2;spage=187;epage=190;aulast=Ghacha

Rhabdomyolysis is not an uncommon cause of acute renal failure (ARF). It is usually caused by severe traumatic crush injury, severe exercise, septicemia, drug abuse, alcoholic intoxication, heat stroke and myopathy. In this case, we present a patient who developed rhabdomyolysis after severe hypokalemia (serum potassium 1.9mmol/L). This is an unusual cause of rhabdomyolysis even though hypokalemia is a common medical problem. This patient developed acute oliguric renal failure that required daily hemodialysis for 12 days, before start of recovery. This case demonstrates that hypokalemia is a preventable cause of rhabdomyolysis and ARF.