Rhabdomyolysis Associated With Statin Medication, Exercise and Sauna

ABSTRACT

Rhabdomyolysis is a syndrome involving the breakdown of skeletal muscle, and this causes myoglobin and other intracellular proteins and electrolytes to leak into the circulatory system. We report here on a case of rhabdomyolysis associated with statin, exercise and sauna exposure. A 63-year-old woman presented to our hospital, and she had been taking simvastatin for over 6 years due to dyslipidemia. She complained of developing myalgia and weakness of the lower extremities over the previous 5 days. She had used a sauna more than 4 hours daily for 20 years, and she had started unaccustomed exercise in the sauna 1 week prior to admission. Her serum creatine kinase concentration was 45,990 IU/L. Conservative treatment was started with the discontinuation of her statin medication, exercise and use of the sauna. Her symptoms and serum creatine kinase level decreased 1 week after admission and she was discharged with minimal residual muscle weakness.