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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
PubMed

Insights

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.

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