[Two cases of rhabdomyolysis with a different clinical course].

Rhabdomyolysis is a syndrome provoked by the injury to skeletal muscles and the release of muscle cell contents into the plasma. The aetiology and clinical course are extremely variable. This is sometimes the reason of the diagnostic difficulties or even errors. Acute renal failure is the often and serious complication of rhabdomyolysis. The correct and early diagnosis of rhabdomyolysis is a key to successful treatment and prevention of the possible complications. Two cases of rhabdomyolysis with different aetiology and clinical course are presented in this paper. A 39-year-old man was admitted with the symptoms of dyspepsia. During the first day he developed the acute renal failure and later the acute respiratory failure. The initial serum creatine phosphokinase (CPK) activity was about 225,000 U/L. Haemodialysis, plasmapheresis and respiratory therapy were performed. A 25-year-old man was admitted with the swollen leg of the uncertain origin. His initial CPK activity was 18,993 U/L. The patient was treated with the infusions of fluids and sodium bicarbonate. He did not develop renal failure. Despite of the initial diagnostic doubts, in both cases the outcome was excellent.