Rhabdomyolysis following oral ingestion of the hydrocarbon cyclohexanone in an adolescent

A 15-year-old boy with no prior medical problems ingested cyclohexanone in a suicide attempt. The patient developed altered mental status, shock, metabolic acidosis, chemical hepatitis, and renal insufficiency. In addition, he developed rhabdomyolysis as evidenced by muscle pain, increased serum creatine phosphokinase levels and myoglobinuria. He was treated successfully with intubation, fluid resuscitation, dopamine, and activated charcoal. The patient was discharged without clinical sequelae. Renal involvement, chemical hepatitis, shock, and metabolic acidosis following oral ingestion of hydrocarbon containing solutions have been well described in the literature. To our knowledge, the development of rhabdomyolysis following an oral ingestion of a hydrocarbon was reported only once in an adult patient and never in an adolescent. We reviewed literature pertaining to the occurrence, pathophysiology, and etiology of rhabdomyolysis in hydrocarbon intoxication.