Preliminary identification of prognostic factors from clinical outcome in 38 cases of rhabdomyolysis

Background Rhabdomyolysis is a systemic metabolic disorder caused by leakage of muscle cell constituents into the blood after necrosis of skeletal muscle due to traumatic and nontraumatic causes. This study was done to identify the significant prognostic factors for rhabdomyolysis. Methods The relationship between the outcomes and various clinical characteristics was investigated retrospectively from January 1991 to December 1996, in 38 patients with rhabdomyolysis (29 men and 9 women). Results Among the 8 patients who died, old age, diabetes mellitus, acute renal failure, and disseminated intravascular coagulation were significantly more common than in the 30 survivors. The BUN, serum sodium, serum potassium, serum phosphorus, and blood glucose levels were also significantly higher in the patients who died. There was no significant correlation between the outcome and the patient's sex, the serum levels of creatine phosphokinase and other enzymes leaking from muscle, the blood and urine pH, base excess, and blood pressure, or the use of hemodialysis. Conclusions In patients with rhabdomyolysis, advanced age, diabetes mellitus, acute renal failure, and disseminated intravascular coagulation were factors associated with a poor prognosis, and so require aggressive treatment.