Liberal Intravenous Fluid Administration in a Rare Case of Severe Rhabdomyolysis Secondary to SARS-CoV-2

Cureus. 2021 Aug 16;13(8):e17234. doi: 10.7759/cureus.17234. eCollection 2021 Aug.

Abstract

SARS-CoV-2 entered the world by storm when it made its appearance at the end of 2019 in Wuhan, China. The severity can range from asymptomatic infection, which occurs in approximately 33% of infected patients, to death. Worldwide deaths due to SARS-CoV-2 are currently approximated at 3.8 million people with close to 600,000 deaths in the United States alone, reiterating the significant impact this virus has on the population. SARS-CoV-2 can affect systems of the body such as respiratory, gastrointestinal tract, neurological, cardiac, renal, and even skeletal muscle tissue. A few cases of rhabdomyolysis are reported in SARS-CoV-2 infection, but the significant level of creatinine kinase in the hundreds of thousands is rare. Our case demonstrates the rarity of SARS-CoV-2 manifestation in a 33-year-old African American male with severe rhabdomyolysis with a creatinine kinase on the admission of 362,445 IU/L. The patient was treated aggressively with intravenous fluids, monitoring electrolytes, renal function, and respiratory status closely. His management includes liberal administration of fluid to treat his rhabdomyolysis, without compromising his respiratory status. He was subsequently discharged home after seven days of hospitalization. We strive to share this information in hopes to share our management for future similar cases.

Keywords: covid-19; hepatocellular injury; rare disease; rhabdomyolysis; sars-2-coronavirus.

Publication types

  • Case Reports