Acute kidney injury secondary to rhabdomyolysis: a rare presentation of chikungunya fever

ABSTRACT

Chikungunya fever is an arthropod-borne viral illness characterised by high grade fever and incapacitating arthralgias. It is considered benign; however, in the recent outbreaks, several complications have been reported worldwide. We report a case of male patient with Chikungunya fever, possibly contracted from infected mosquitoes endemic in Karachi, Pakistan. The clinical presentation included fever, myalgias and anuria. Investigations revealed renal failure and significantly raised creatinine phosphokinase [CPK], suggesting rhabdomyolysis to be the cause of acute kidney injury [AKI]. Rhabdomyolysis is likely occurred due to virus-induced myositis; a rare presentation of Chikungunya fever. The patient gradually recovered from renal failure following supportive care and renal replacement therapy