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Acute pediatric rhabdomyolysis.
N Watemberg1, R L Leshner, B A Armstrong
1Child Neurology Division, Medical College of Virginia, Richmond, USA. nwatemberg@pol.net
Journal of Child Neurology
|May 11, 2000
Summary
Acute rhabdomyolysis in children is often triggered by trauma, infections, or metabolic issues. Prompt urinalysis can aid diagnosis, with acute renal failure being a significant complication.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Nephrology
- Neurology
Background:
- Rhabdomyolysis, or muscle breakdown, can occur in various myopathies and also acutely in healthy individuals.
- Causes of acute rhabdomyolysis are numerous and continually expanding.
- Limited published data exists on acute pediatric rhabdomyolysis.
Purpose of the Study:
- To describe the causes and complications of acute rhabdomyolysis in hospitalized children.
- To identify common etiologies and outcomes in pediatric rhabdomyolysis cases.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective review of pediatric patients admitted over an 8-year period.
- Inclusion criteria: rhabdomyolysis recognized as a complication during hospitalization; exclusion: intermittent or relapsing cases.
- Identification of 19 pediatric patients meeting criteria.
Main Results:
- Trauma, nonketotic hyperosmolar coma, viral myositis, dystonia, and malignant hyperthermia were common causes.
- Acute renal failure occurred in 42% of cases, with older children (mean age 13.9 years) more affected.
- Urinalysis could have suggested rhabdomyolysis in 9 of 16 tested patients.
Conclusions:
- Acute rhabdomyolysis in children has diverse etiologies, with trauma and metabolic derangements being prominent.
- Acute renal failure is a frequent and serious complication, particularly in older children.
- Urinalysis is a valuable diagnostic tool that should be carefully assessed in suspected cases.