Rhabdomyolysis due to hypothyroidism

Abstract

Hypothyroidism is a wide clinical spectrum disorder and only a few cases in literature show this. Rhabdomyolysis and acute renal impairment can be seen concurrently in a hypothyroid state. We report a case of severe hypothyroidism with poor drug compliance leading to rhabdomyolysis and acute kidney injury. • Hypothyroidism is a rare cause of acute kidney injury. • In this case report, we studied a rare occurrence of acute renal impairment due to hypothyroidism with poor drug compliance, which induced rhabdomyolysis. • Our report emphasized that thyroid status should be evaluated in patients with unexplained acute renal impairment or presenting with the symptoms of muscle involvement. Case presentation A 53-year-old male was admitted to a hospital with 15 days history of dyspnoea, weakness and oliguria, and muscle pain. His medical history included pulmonary thromboembolic, hypertension and cardiac arrhythmia. He had undergone total thyroidectomy for papillary thyroid cancer two years ago. His medication consisted of metoprolol, enoxaparin and l-thyroxine with no use in the past 4 weeks. Physical examination revealed dry and pale skin and slow speech. His pulse rate was 55 beats/minute and blood pressure was 130/90 mm Hg. Electrocardiography has shown bigemine ventricular extra systole. Laboratory investigations showed the following values: creatine phosphokinase, 1560 U/L (reference range, 52-336 U/L); creatinine, 2.1 mg/dL (0.2-1.0 mg/dL); potassium, 5.3 mEq/L (3.5-5.0 mEq/L); thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) 43.2 µIU/mL (0.4-4.8 uIU/mL), free thyroxine (fT4) <0.3 ng/dL (1.71-2.8 ng/dL) and free triiodothyronine (fT3) 0.48 pg/mL (1.57-4.71 pg/ mL). Haematological tests showed haemoglobin 9.4 g/dL (12-16), white cell count 9000 µL and platelet counts were in normal range. His urine was bloody in appearance and urine analysis showed blood reaction with dipstick test, but no erythrocytes were found on microscopic examination. Fraction excretion of Na and urinary Na were high (2.6% and 46 mEq/L, respectively). Renal tract ultrasonography was normal. No signs suggested the presence of an associated infectious or systemic inflammatory disease. In addition, other causes resulting in rhabdomyolysis such as muscular trauma, drugs and toxins were excluded with history and laboratory investigations. His condition was diagnosed as acute kidney injury secondary to hypothyroidism-induced rhabdomyolysis. This case was also consulted with the department of cardiology physicians who started him on metoprolol 25 mg before beginning thyroid replacement therapy. Cardiac status remained stable: l-thyroxine 25 microgram/day was prescribed, then 2 weeks later it was continued with l-thyroxine 50 microgram/day. His fluid deficiency was treated aggressively. His symptoms resolved over the following 3 weeks.

Rhabdomyolysis case based on hypothyroidism

“…The exact cause of rhabdomyolysis in hypothyroidism has not as yet been fully clarified; the widely accepted hypothesis is that impaired glycogen lysis or impaired mitochondrial oxidative metabolism in hypothyroidism may be responsible for rhabdomyolysis (1,2,3). In our case, hypothyroidism was the cause of rhabdomyolysis because of lack of other etiologic agents resulting in rhabdomyolysis.…”

Refractory Acute Kidney Injury Secondary to Hypothyroid-Induced Myopathy: A Contemporary Case Report

“…Furthermore, myalgia, in addition to muscle hypertrophy and proximal myopathy, is also observed in adults with hypothyroidism. Various case reports have noted very high serum creatine kinase and rhabdomyolysis associated with hypothyroid disease [3,5,6]. In some cases, vigorous exercise or concurrent statin therapy administration also seems to precipitate rhabdomyolysis.…”

“…It is common to see muscular dysfunction in the setting of hypothyroidism [4,5]. Some instances have even evolved into serious complications like acute kidney injury secondary to rhabdomyolysis [6][7][8][9]. Several case reports have documented an uncommon correlation between hypothyroidism and associated acute renal failure.…”

Hypothyroidism-associated rhabdomyolysis

“…Only a few cases of rhabdomyolysis due to hypothyroidism have been reported. [1][2][3][4][5] The present case describes a patient suffering from rhabdomyolysis due to hypothyroidism, with no other precipitating factor. Diagnosis of rhabdomyolysis was carried out based on muscle weakness, grossly elevated CPK and elevated serum creatinine.…”