A case of bear's gall induced rhabdomyolysis / 대한내과학회지

ABSTRACT

We report a case of rhabdomyolysis in a 29-year-old man, presenting pain on neck and shoulder and dark urine, which developed after taking Bear's gall and swimming. Laboratory studies revealed serum creatinine 0.9 mg/dL, creatinine kinase 83,045 IU/L, serum myoglobin 794.6 ng/mL, urine myoglobin 220.2 ng/mL. Tc-99m MDP whole bone scan showed diffuse increased uptake confined to the soft tissue of upper chest. The condition resolved spontaneously when consumption of the product ceased, he was recovered with normal creatine kinase. Generally, the Bear's gall is termed gall bladder of bear dried under the air-flow, which has been applied as versatile treatment in oriental medcine. Rhabdomyolysis is a well known complication of HMG-CoA inhibitor therapy, the Bear's gall has not yet been reported as a cause of rhabdomyolysis. We postulate that the Bear's gall may result in muscle injury.