[Acute rhabdomyolytic alcoholic myopathy associated with acute alcoholic hepatitis]

J L Fernández Reyes1, J Navarro Herrera, J L Bianchi Llave

  • 1Servicio de Medicina Interna, Hospital del SAS Ciudad de Jaén.

Anales De Medicina Interna (Madrid, Spain : 1984)
|March 1, 1995
PubMed

Insights

This case study highlights a rare association between acute rhabdomyolytic alcoholic myopathy and acute alcoholic hepatitis in a chronic alcoholic patient. It suggests routine creatine-phosphokinase assessment for at-risk individuals.

Area of Science:

  • Internal Medicine
  • Hepatology
  • Neurology

Background:

  • Acute rhabdomyolysis (ARM) is a syndrome of skeletal muscle injury.
  • It involves muscle cell membrane permeability disruption, releasing intracellular components into plasma.
  • Chronic alcohol consumption is a known risk factor for myopathy.

Observation:

  • A chronic alcoholic patient presented with symptoms of acute rhabdomyolytic alcoholic myopathy (AREM).
  • This occurred after several days of increased alcohol intake.
  • The patient also developed acute alcoholic hepatitis (AAH).

Findings:

  • The study reports a novel association between AREM and AAH.
  • Literature review revealed no prior documented cases of this specific combination.
  • Clinical signs of AREM are often nonspecific.

Implications:

  • This case underscores the importance of considering AREM in alcoholic patients with relevant symptoms.
  • The findings suggest a potential link between alcohol-induced liver and muscle injury.
  • Systematic creatine-phosphokinase assessment is recommended for at-risk patients to aid early diagnosis of AREM.

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