Korean Circ J.  2008 May;38(5):284-286. 10.4070/kcj.2008.38.5.284.

Rhabdomyolysis Associated With Statin Medication, Exercise and Sauna

• Hong YH
• Won HS
• Kim DI
• Lee SH
• Kim TS
• Seo YY
• Park JB
• Whang IS
• Shin HH

• KMID: 2225791
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4070/kcj.2008.38.5.284

Abstract

Rhabdomyolysis is a syndrome involving the breakdown of skeletal muscle, and this causes myoglobin and other intracellular proteins and electrolytes to leak into the circulatory system. We report here on a case of rhabdomyolysis associated with statin, exercise and sauna exposure. A 63-year-old woman presented to our hospital, and she had been taking simvastatin for over 6 years due to dyslipidemia. She complained of developing myalgia and weakness of the lower extremities over the previous 5 days. She had used a sauna more than 4 hours daily for 20 years, and she had started unaccustomed exercise in the sauna 1 week prior to admission. Her serum creatine kinase concentration was 45,990 IU/L. Conservative treatment was started with the discontinuation of her statin medication, exercise and use of the sauna. Her symptoms and serum creatine kinase level decreased 1 week after admission and she was discharged with minimal residual muscle weakness.

Keyword

Rhabdomyolysis; Statin; Exercise; Sauna

MeSH Terms

Creatine Kinase
Dyslipidemias
Electrolytes
Female
Humans
Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors
Lower Extremity
Middle Aged
Muscle Weakness
Muscle, Skeletal
Myoglobin
Proteins
Rhabdomyolysis
Simvastatin
Steam Bath
Creatine Kinase
Electrolytes
Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors
Myoglobin
Proteins
Simvastatin

Figure

• 

  Fig. 1 Laboratory data. CK: creatine kinase, AST: aspartate aminotransferase, ALT: alanine aminotransferase.

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