Rhabdomyolysis Differential Diagnoses

  • Author: Eyal Muscal, MD; Chief Editor: Lawrence K Jung, MD   more...
 
Updated: May 16, 2012
 
 

Diagnostic Considerations

A preliminary diagnosis of rhabdomyolysis requires a high index of suspicion. A definitive diagnosis is achieved by means of laboratory evaluation (see Workup).

In addition to the conditions listed in the differential diagnosis, other problems to be considered include the following:

  • Traumatic injuries
  • Viral infections
  • Myalgias from other etiologies
  • Bacterial infections
  • Cold exposure
  • Malignant hyperthermia
  • Muscle phosphorylase deficiency
  • Phosphofructokinase deficiency
  • Carnitine palmityl transferase deficiency
  • Phosphoglycerate mutase deficiency
  • Hyperosmotic conditions
  • Guillain-Barré syndrome
  • Inflammatory myositis

Differentials

Anemia, Sickle Cell

Burns, Electrical

Carnitine Deficiency

Child Abuse & Neglect, Physical Abuse

Compartment Syndrome, Extremity

Dermatomyositis

Diabetic Ketoacidosis

Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation

Heat Exhaustion and Heatstroke

HIV Infection and AIDS

Hypernatremia

Hyperosmolar Hyperglycemic Nonketotic Coma

Hypokalemia

Hyponatremia

Hypophosphatemia

Hypothermia

Hypothyroidism and Myxedema Coma

Multisystem Organ Failure of Sepsis

Myoglobinuria

Myopathies

Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome

Pediatrics, Inborn Errors of Metabolism

Plant Poisoning, Hemlock

Polymyositis

Renal Failure, Acute

Sepsis

Snake Envenomations, Rattle

Spider Envenomations, Widow

Systemic Inflammatory Response Syndrome

Systemic Lupus Erythematosus

Thromboembolism

Toxic Shock Syndrome

Toxicity, Alcohols

Toxicity, Amphetamine

Toxicity, Barbiturate

Toxicity, Carbon Monoxide

Toxicity, Cocaine

Toxicity, Cyclic Antidepressants

Toxicity, Ethanol

Toxicity, Ethylene Glycol

Toxicity, Hallucinogen

Toxicity, MDMA

Toxicity, Medication-Induced Dystonic Reactions

Toxicity, Methamphetamine

Toxicity, Neuroleptic Agents

Toxicity, Phencyclidine

Toxicity, Salicylate

Toxicity, Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor

Toxicity, Theophylline

Toxicity, Toluene

Proceed to Workup
 
 
Contributor Information and Disclosures
Author

Eyal Muscal, MD  Assistant Professor, Section of Pediatric Rheumatology, Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, Texas Children's Hospital

Eyal Muscal, MD is a member of the following medical societies: Alpha Omega Alpha, American College of Rheumatology, and Clinical Immunology Society

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Coauthor(s)

Marietta Morales DeGuzman, MD  Assistant Professor, Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine; Consulting Staff, Section of Pediatric Rheumatology, Department of Pediatrics, Texas Children's Hospital, Ben Taub General Hospital

Marietta Morales DeGuzman, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Pediatrics, American College of Rheumatology, and Texas Pediatric Society

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Chief Editor

Lawrence K Jung, MD  Chief, Division of Pediatric Rheumatology, Children's National Medical Center

Lawrence K Jung, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Association for the Advancement of Science, American Association of Immunologists, American College of Rheumatology, Clinical Immunology Society, and New York Academy of Sciences

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Additional Contributors

Sandy Craig, MD, Residency Program Director, Carolinas Medical Center; Associate Professor, Department of Emergency Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine

Sandy Craig, MD is a member of the following societies; Alpha Omega Alpha and the Society for Academic Emergency Medicine.

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Herbert S Diamond, MD Adjunct Professor of Medicine, Division of Rheumatology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine; Chairman Emeritus, Department of Internal Medicine, Western Pennsylvania Hospital

Herbert S Diamond, MD is a member of the following medical societies: Alpha Omega Alpha, American College of Physicians, American College of Rheumatology, American Medical Association, and Phi Beta Kappa

Disclosure: Merck Ownership interest Other; Smith Kline Ownership interest Other; Zimmer Ownership interest Other

Lance W Kreplick, MD, FAAEM, MMM Medical Director of Hyperbaric Medicine, Fawcett Wound Management and Hyperbaric Medicine; Consulting Staff in Occupational Health and Rehabilitation, Company Care Occupational Health Services; President and Chief Executive Officer, QED Medical Solutions, LLC

Lance W Kreplick, MD, FAAEM, MMM, is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Emergency Medicine and American College of Physician Executives

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Barry L Myones, MD Associate Professor, Departments of Pediatrics and Immunology, Pediatric Rheumatology Section, Baylor College of Medicine; Director of Research, Pediatric Rheumatology Center, Texas Children's Hospital

Barry L Myones, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Pediatrics, American Association of Immunologists, American College of Rheumatology, American Heart Association, American Society for Microbiology, Clinical Immunology Society, and Texas Medical Association

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Tom Scaletta, MD Chair, Department of Emergency Medicine, Edward Hospital; Past-President, American Academy of Emergency Medicine

Tom Scaletta, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Emergency Medicine

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Binita R Shah, MD, FAAP, Professor of Clinical Pediatrics and Emergency Medicine, SUNY Health Sciences Center at Brooklyn; Director of Pediatric Emergency Medicine, Departments of Emergency Medicine and Pediatrics, Kings County Hospital Center

Binita R Shah, MD, FAAPis a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Pediatrics

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose

Francisco Talavera, PharmD, PhD Adjunct Assistant Professor, University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Pharmacy; Editor-in-Chief, Medscape Drug Reference

Disclosure: Medscape Salary Employment

Renee Wilson, MD, Clinical Assistant Instructor, Department of Emergency Medicine, SUNY-Downstate and Kings County Hospital

Renee Wilson, MDis a member of the following medical societies: Society for Academic Emergency Medicine

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose

Mary L Windle, PharmD Adjunct Associate Professor, University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Pharmacy; Editor-in-Chief, Medscape Drug Reference

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

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Model of helical domains in myoglobin (protein linked to kidney damage in rhabdomyolysis).
 
 
 
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