Myoplasmic Ca2+ concentration during exertional rhabdomyolysis.
Exertional rhabdomyolysis can destroy muscle but the pathophysiology is unknown. Using intracellular selective microelectrodes, we found that intracellular Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]i) was 1.27 (0.17) mumol/L (median and interquartile range) in skeletal-muscle biopsy specimens from patients with exertional rhabdomyolysis compared with 0.12 (0.01) mumol/L in controls. 3 days treatment with dantrolene, a drug that inhibits Ca2+ release from the sarcoplasmic reticulum, decreased [Ca2+]i to 0.22 (0.05) mumol/L and accelerated patients' recovery. This study demonstrated that exertional rhabdomyolysis is associated with elevated [Ca2+]i, and that dantrolene has a beneficial effect in this syndrome.
Centro de Biofísica y Bioquímica, Instituto Venezolano de Investigaciones Científicas, Caracas.
J R
JR
López
B
B
Rojas
M A
MA
Gonzalez
A
A
Terzic
D000328:Adult; D001706:Biopsy; D002118:Calcium / Q000032:analysis*; D003620:Dantrolene / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007424:Intracellular Fluid / Q000737:chemistry; D008297:Male; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000737:chemistry*; D005082:Physical Exertion; D012206:Rhabdomyolysis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology*
D003620:Dantrolene; D002118:Calcium