Rhabdomyolysis-Induced Acute Renal Injury in a Schizophrenic Patient

Asymptomatic COVID-19 Infection-Induced Rhabdomyolysis in the Backdrop of Statin-Cyclosporine Drug Interaction

Rhabdomyolysis involves skeletal muscle breakdown leading to high serum creatine kinase (CK) levels and myoglobinuria. Here, we report the case of a middle-aged man who developed rhabdomyolysis, resulting in acute kidney injury (AKI) over pre-existing chronic kidney disease (stage 3a) secondary to focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (primary FSGS), during an asymptomatic COVID-19 infection. The patient had been on treatment with cyclosporine and statin, among other drugs, for his comorbidities. He had initially presented to the hospital after a fall due to difficulty walking in the setting of increasing edema. Lab workup revealed elevated CK and AKI. Urinalysis showed "large" blood on a dipstick with only two RBCs per high-power field on microscopy, suggesting myoglobinuria. A standard respiratory pathogen polymerase chain reaction panel revealed positive SARS-CoV-2. The chest X-ray and oxygenation were normal, and he had no respiratory symptoms. He was treated with intravenous fluids and albumin, with a steady improvement in renal function. Our case underlines that rhabdomyolysis can occur in asymptomatic COVID-19 infection. Therefore, it may be worth monitoring CK levels in COVID-19-positive patients with risk factors for rhabdomyolysis, such as the concurrent usage of statins and cyclosporine, even if they are otherwise asymptomatic.

Rhabdomyolysis Associated With Febuxostat in a Non-Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) Patient: Diagnostic and Management Challenges

Rhabdomyolysis is a critical medical condition characterized by the rapid breakdown of muscle tissue, releasing substances such as myoglobin and creatine kinase into the bloodstream, potentially leading to acute kidney injury. The etiology includes trauma, exertion, genetic factors, infections, and adverse drug reactions. Febuxostat, a non-purine selective xanthine oxidase inhibitor used to manage hyperuricemia in gout patients, is typically well-tolerated but has been associated with rare instances of severe adverse reactions like rhabdomyolysis. This case report describes a case of a 73-year-old male who developed rhabdomyolysis shortly after initiating febuxostat for gout management. He presented with significant lower back pain and progressive leg weakness, initially suspected to be an exacerbation of his degenerative disk disease. Laboratory findings revealed alarmingly elevated creatine phosphokinase levels, and diagnostics excluded other potential etiologies. The patient's condition significantly improved following the cessation of febuxostat and initiation of supportive care, including high-dose intravenous corticosteroids and hydration. This case underscores the need for vigilance in monitoring for rhabdomyolysis in patients starting febuxostat, especially when presenting with unexplained muscle weakness or pain.

Delayed-Onset olanzapine-induced rhabdomyolysis

Olanzapine is a commonly used and effective second-generation antipsychotic agent used for the control of paranoia and agitation in schizophrenia and bipolar disorder as well as in the behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia. Serious side effects of treatment are uncommon but spontaneous rhabdomyolysis represents a rare complication. We describe here a patient treated with a stable dose of olanzapine for more than 8 years who developed acute severe rhabdomyolysis without an identifiable trigger and without features suggestive of neuroleptic malignant syndrome. The rhabdomyolysis was atypical in its delayed onset and severity with a creatine kinase level of 345 125 U/L, the highest level reported in the available literature. We also describe the clinical manifestations of delayed-onset olanzapine-induced rhabdomyolysis and its differentiation from neuroleptic malignancy syndrome, and we highlight key aspects of management to prevent or minimise further complications such as acute kidney injury.

Psychotropic Drugs and Adverse Kidney Effects: A Systematic Review of the Past Decade of Research

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE

Psychotropic drugs are a heterogenous group of treatments prescribed for many psychiatric disorders, often for long periods. Their effects on the kidney and its functioning are complex and a source of significant research and debate. This article aims to review recent evidence of the acute and chronic kidney adverse events of diverse psychotropes.

METHODS

A systematic search of randomized controlled trials and large observational studies (n ≥ 100) reporting the effects of psychotropic drugs on the kidney was conducted. The MEDLINE, PsycInfo, and EMBASE databases from 2011 to 2021, inclusive, were broadly searched with few restrictions and no prespecified outcomes. Two or more independent reviewers assessed and summarized all eligible studies, including risks of bias and levels of evidence.

RESULTS

In all, 1999 abstracts were screened for eligibility and 47 articles were included, which examined lithium (33), antiepileptics (10), antipsychotics (13), and antidepressants (9). No studies examining kidney adverse effects of other psychotropes, such as benzodiazepines, met inclusion criteria. Study populations were adult (8), geriatric (9), and mixed (30). Lithium was almost unanimously associated with (1) chronic kidney disease and (2) nephrogenic diabetes insipidus in methodologically diverse studies. The most supported risk factors for declining kidney functioning with lithium were advanced age, duration of lithium treatment, acute lithium toxicity, female sex, medications with known renal interactions, diabetes mellitus/hyperglycemia, and overall medical comorbidity. Supratherapeutic lithium concentrations are both the causes and consequences of acute kidney injury. Once significant chronic kidney disease has developed, four studies found that replacing lithium with other mood stabilizers does not slow progression, and the evolution to end-stage kidney disease is rare overall with modern practices. Compared to lithium, fewer studies examined antipsychotics and antiepileptics but found relatively less direct kidney harms. Antidepressants were not associated with acute or chronic kidney harms.

CONCLUSIONS

Despite the heterogeneity of findings, owing to varying methodologies and research challenges, recent studies strongly suggest that lithium is associated with an increased risk of chronic kidney disease and nephrogenic diabetes insipidus, especially in older adults and long-term lithium users. Clinicians should balance the harms of lithium against its established benefits, and ensure adequate monitoring and management of comorbidities in all patients. Weaker evidence suggests that antiepileptics such as valproate and antipsychotics result in comparatively less harm to the kidney than lithium, but warrant monitoring because of multiple direct and indirect mechanisms for potential kidney adverse events. Antidepressants do not have clear kidney adverse effects and appear safe (though potentially less effective) in the setting of kidney disease. Other classes of psychotropic drugs have received little research interest. Further research is warranted, particularly into specific antiepileptics and antipsychotics, and careful attention should be paid to mitigating important sources of bias such as confounding by indication.