title: Rhabdomyolysis of infectious and noninfectious causes.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  This study was done to determine variables associated with infectious rhabdomyolysis (IRM).
  
  
  METHODS
  In this retrospective case-control study, rhabdomyolysis (RM) was defined as a fivefold or greater elevation in creatine kinase (CK) levels with a muscle/brain (MB) fraction <5%. Patients with myocardial infarction or cerebrovascular accident or a recent history of surgery, trauma, or immobilization were excluded.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We analyzed 52 cases of RM seen at our institution between 1992 and 2000; IRM was the most frequent cause (31%), most commonly respiratory tract infections (38%). When a microorganism could be identified (50%), it was more often gram-negative (63%). Patients with IRM were elderly and had fever and lower CK levels. Infectious rhabdomyolysis was associated with a higher morbidity but not with a higher risk of death.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Infectious rhabdomyolysis is the main cause of RM and must be suspected in elderly patients with fever and low levels of CK.
authors: Servicio de Medicina Interna y Documentación Clínica Complejo Hospitalario Sán Millán-San Pedro, Lardero, Spain.
authors: José Ramón
authors: JR
authors: Blanco
authors: Marta
authors: M
authors: Zabalza
authors: Javier
authors: J
authors: Salcedo
authors: Lorenzo
authors: L
authors: Echeverria
authors: Ana
authors: A
authors: García
authors: Manuel
authors: M
authors: Vallejo
mesh_terms: D058186:Acute Kidney Injury / Q000209:etiology; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003141:Communicable Diseases / Q000150:complications* / Q000382:microbiology; D003402:Creatine Kinase / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012206:Rhabdomyolysis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000401:mortality; D012307:Risk Factors; D013030:Spain / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D003402:Creatine Kinase