What is rhabdomyolysis?
Rhabdomyolysis is a disorder that involves myoglobin, a protein found in red skeletal muscle. When damage occurs to the skeletal muscle, the myoglobin is sloughed off into the bloodstream where it would normally be filtered by the kidneys. However, if enough material enters the bloodstream, it can reduce the blood flow to the kidneys and block this organ’s ability to properly function and lead to kidney failure. The myoglobin can also cause kidney failure if, when it breaks down, it does so into toxic compounds. The shift of body fluids from the bloodstream into the muscle can send the body into shock. Kidney failure can certainly result in death if the necessary medical steps are not taken.
