title: Hypokalemic rhabdomyolysis in a child due to amphotericin B therapy.
abstract: Hypokalemia can result in life-threatening complications if not treated appropriately. Although hypokalemia is a frequent adverse effect of amphotericin B therapy, there are no reports in the pediatric literature on hypokalemia-associated rhabdomyolysis induced by this drug. A ten-year-old boy with a history of one week amphotericin B treatment was admitted with weakness of the lower extremities, inability to walk and calf pain. Laboratory tests showed a serum potassium of 1.7 mEq/L and a serum creatinine phosphokinase of 3937 U/L plus myoglobulinuria. Following fluid expansion and intravenous potassium replacement, the patient progressed to achieve full regression of muscular weakness after one week. This report highlights hypokalemia as a rare cause of rhabdomyolysis. Patients on amphotericin B should be checked for this rare yet potentially life-threatening complication.
authors.affiliation: Pediatric Intensive Care Unit, Department of Pediatrics, Hospital do Servidor Público Municipal, São Paulo, Brazil. psls.nat@terra.com.br
authors.forename: Paulo Sérgio
authors.initials: PS
authors.lastname: Lucas da Silva
authors.forename: Simone Brasil de Oliveira
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Iglesias
authors.forename: Jaques
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Waisberg
mesh_terms: D000666:Amphotericin B / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002648:Child; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007008:Hypokalemia / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis; D008297:Male; D012206:Rhabdomyolysis / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis; D013530:Surgical Wound Infection / Q000188:drug therapy
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D000666:Amphotericin B