[Renal failure secondary to effort rhabdomyolysis: report of three cases]

Renal failure secondary to effort rhabdomyolysis is uncommon. We report three males age 28, 37 (military sportsmen) and 44 years (sedentary obese), with this condition. Episodes occurred after a training session to run a triathlon, during the course of a mini marathon and during a rescue attempt of a drowning person. All three subjects experienced intense muscle symptoms, hemoglubinuria, oliguria, rise of blood urea nitrogen and a significant rise in muscle enzymes. Creatinekinase reached a maximum of 41 times normal, aspartate aminotransferase a maximum 35 times normal and lactacte dehydrogenase a maximum of 11 times normal. There was a rapid elevation of serum creatinine, reaching values of 6.6 and 9.8 mg/dl on the third day after the physical effort. This parameter had a disproportionate elevation in relation to urea nitrogen, in two subjects. All subjects were managed with saline hydration, sodium bicarbonate and furosemide. Only one required hemodialysis for two days. All normalized their renal function 18 to 48 days after the physical exertion. No subject had other predisposing conditions for acute renal failure.