Rhabdomyolysis in a case of free-base cocaine ("crack") overdose

This is the case of a 27-year-old black man who was admitted to Loyola University Medical Center after a one-time experience of smoking free-base ("crack") cocaine. Clinical manifestations of the resulting cocaine intoxication were rhabdomyolysis, acute renal failure, and transient liver failure. This patient came to our attention because of the striking alterations in his blood-chemistry values, which indicated acute tissue damage, and his remarkable recovery within 96 h. We discuss the dramatic changes in the laboratory findings and the clinical course of this patient.