What should you know about diseases that cause rhabdomyolysis?

Rhabdomyolysis occurs when damaged muscle releases substances into the bloodstream that can affect the kidneys and other body systems. Causes include inflammatory muscle disease, inherited muscle or energy-processing disorders, severe infections, endocrine or metabolic problems, and conditions that cause prolonged immobility or seizures.

A trigger may also be outside the disease category: intense unfamiliar exercise, crush injury, heat exposure, dehydration, alcohol or recreational drugs, and some prescription medicines can contribute. The cause is sometimes a combination rather than one diagnosis.

Seek medical assessment when severe muscle pain, swelling, weakness, or unusual dark urine follows exertion, illness, injury, heat, or a medicine change. A clinician may check blood muscle enzymes, kidney function, salts, urine, and the history of triggers. Do not restart a suspected medicine or push through strenuous exercise without advice.

Treatment focuses on the cause and protecting kidney function, often with carefully supervised fluids and monitoring. Recurrent episodes may prompt evaluation for an inherited or metabolic muscle disorder.

Go to emergency care for dark or cola-coloured urine, very little urine, rapidly increasing swelling, severe weakness, fainting, confusion, chest symptoms, or difficulty breathing. Urgent review is also needed when symptoms follow heat exposure, a major injury, seizure, or a new medicine.

Ask what may have triggered the episode, which medicines or supplements should be paused, how kidney tests will be followed, when activity can resume, and whether recurring episodes need specialist genetic or metabolic assessment.