dark urine and rhabdomyolysis

Q: The diagnosis of rhabdomyolysis requires dark-colored urine? 

A) Yes

B) No

Answer: B

Clinically rhabdomyolysis is a diagnosis consisting of a triad of myalgias, muscle weakness, and colored urine. The classic triad is present in less than 10 percent of the patients and requires laboratory evidence of elevated CK. Also, dark-colored urine is present in less than 10 percent of patients and requires urinalysis to confirm myoglobinuria.

Another less appreciated symptom of rhabdomyolysis is muscle swelling from edema, which may become apparent after fluid resuscitation.

#musculoskeletal

#nephrology

References:

1. Huerta-Alardín AL, Varon J, Marik PE. Bench-to-bedside review: Rhabdomyolysis -- an overview for clinicians. Crit Care 2005; 9:158.

2. Stahl K, Rastelli E, Schoser B. A systematic review on the definition of rhabdomyolysis. J Neurol 2020; 267:877.

3. Cervellin G, Comelli I, Benatti M, et al. Non-traumatic rhabdomyolysis: Background, laboratory features, and acute clinical management. Clin Biochem 2017; 50:656.

4. Nance JR, Mammen AL. Diagnostic evaluation of rhabdomyolysis. Muscle Nerve 2015; 51:793.