[Rhabdomyolysis].

Rhabdomyolysis is the common denomination of conditions with destruction of skeletal muscle tissue. Complications are disturbances in the electrolyte and acid-base balance and circulatory and renal insufficency. The pathophysiology and treatment of these systemic complications is discussed. Different recommendations exist for the prevention of renal failure; of these, only fluid therapy to restore euvolaemia has been shown to be efficient with reasonable certainty, whereas the effect of diuretic therapy, alkalinisation of the urine and haemofiltration of myoglobin remains to be proved.