RESUMEN
We have studied 26 patients with rhabdomyolysis complicated with acute renal failure. The causes of rhabdomyolysis were dominated by paraphenylene diamine intoxication (PPD) (13 cases). The other etiologies were: crush syndrome (6 cases), eclampsia (3 cases), intense physical effort (1 case), butane intoxication (1 case), postural rhabdomyolysis induced by a prolonged surgical operation for pheochromocytoma (1 case). None of the patients had any past medical history of muscle or renal disease. Serum level of creatinine phosphokinase varied from 1200 to 5400 IU/L. The mean peak of serum creatinine level was 620 umol/1. Therapy included forced alkaline diuresis in all cases. Hemodialysis was required in 18 cases. All but eight patients survived. We conclude that rahabdomyolysis could be caused by intoxication, which was a prime cause in this study. Prevention may be possible with restriction of use of toxic products.