title: Five factors contributing to severe rhabdomyolysis in a 21 yr old IV drug abuser: a case report.
abstract: Rhabdomyolysis is a potentially life-threatening condition resulting from the release of large quantities of myocyte breakdown products into the circulation, following injury to striated muscles. There are several causes of rhabdomyolysis - traumatic and non-traumatic. We present a 21-year-old male intravenous drug abuser, who was referred to us with fever, altered sensorium and seizures. He developed severe rhabdomyolysis following a mixed meningeal infection by Streptococcus pneumoniae and Mycobacterium tuberculosis. This patient's examination and investigation suggested a combination of factors leading to the severe rhabdomyolysis which proved fatal. The patient's creatine phosphokinase was elevated to 167,000 U/L, following hyperpyrexia, seizures, meningitis (pneumococcal and tuberculous), pentazocine and alcohol abuse. The increase in mortality rate with the onset of rhabdomyolysis warrants immediate cessation of the insult and aggressive management.
authors.affiliation: Department of General Medicine, Sri Ramachandra University Chennai, Tamil Nadu India. preshg@gmail.com
authors.forename: Prasanthi
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Ganeshram
authors.forename: Poorani Nallam
authors.initials: PN
authors.lastname: Goundan
authors.forename: Vijay
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Jeyachandran
authors.forename: Preetham
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Arthur