Severe rhabdomyolysis in well conditioned athletes

Two well conditioned high school athletes developed rhabdomyolysis after rather modest exercise in activities for which they had not specifically trained-weight lifting and playing bongo drums. Neither patient had a history of exercise intolerance or rhabdomyolysis before. The extent of the rhabdomyolysis in the first patient was extreme (CPK 181,690), and he did not develop renal impairment. The second patient's course was complicated by the use of a contrast study, and he developed marked renal impairment.