Rhabdomyolysis is caused by injury or damage to skeletal muscle cells, leading to the release of muscle cell contents, including proteins and electrolytes, into the bloodstream. The causes of rhabdomyolysis fall into four main categories:
- Medications and Toxic Substances
- Direct muscle toxicity from certain drugs and toxins.
- Indirect muscle damage caused by other drugs and toxins.
- Trauma, Temperature, Ischemic, and Exertional Causes
- Trauma such as crush injuries, prolonged muscle compression, fractures, or electrical shock.
- Heat-related causes like heat stroke or extreme temperature exposure.
- Ischemic injury from restricted blood flow.
- Exertional causes from extreme physical activity or muscle strain.
- Infectious, Inflammatory, and Metabolic Causes
- Various infections including viral and bacterial infections.
- Inflammatory muscle diseases.
- Metabolic disorders such as diabetic ketoacidosis.
- Genetic Causes
- Certain inherited muscle enzyme deficiencies and genetic muscle disorders.
Additional specific causes include alcohol or illegal drug use, medications like statins, seizures, high body temperature, and previous history of rhabdomyolysis. The condition can also arise from severe physical exertion, trauma, immobility, or toxic exposures.
