Hello and welcome to the Zero to Finals podcast.

My name is Tom and in this episode I'm going to be talking to you about Rabdomyalysis.

And you can find written notes on this topic at zero tofinals.com slash rabdomiolysis

or in the renal medicine section of the second edition of the zero to finals medicine book.

And you can find flashcards and questions to train your knowledge on this content

and help you remember the information longer at members.0 to finals.com.

So let's get straight into it.

Rabdomiolysis involves skeletal muscles, or the muscles attached to the skeleton,

breaking down and releasing various chemicals into the blood.

Muscle cells, which are called myocytes, undergo cell death, which is called apoptosis, and this results in them releasing myocytes undergo cell death, which is called apoptosis, and this results in them releasing

myoglobin, potassium, phosphate, and creatine kinase. Potassium is the most immediately

dangerous breakdown product from muscle cells.

Hypercalemia or a high potassium level in the blood can cause cardiac arrhythmias and cardiac arrest.

These breakdown products can cause acute kidney injury with an acute onset of reduced kidney function.

Myoglobin in particular is toxic to the kidneys in high concentrations.

Impaired renal function or kidney function results in further accumulation of these substances in the blood.

Other complications of rhabdomyelysis include compartment syndrome and disseminated

intravascular coagulation.

Let's go through the causes.

Anything that causes significant damage to muscle cells can cause rhabdomyelysis. For example, prolonged immobility,

particularly in frail patients who fall and spend a long time on the floor before they're found.

Extremely vigorous exercise beyond the person's fitness level, for example, endurance events or

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