Objective:
We present a patient with pancreatic cancer who developed weakness, acute renal failure and significantly raised creatine kinase levels post-ERCP and who was assessed as having contrast-induced rhabdomyolysis.
Results:
The patient underwent haemofiltration and ultimately succumbed to his condition.
Conclusion:
Rhabdomyolysis is a potentially life-threatening condition which occurs because of damage to skeletal muscle, with release of myoglobin and electrolytes into the circulation. The mortality rate is 59% in severe cases, despite appropriate treatment.
Learning points:
Iodine-based contrast can cause rhabdomyolysis by reducing blood flow to the muscle.Renal replacement therapy does not improve the mortality rate of rhabdomyolysis.<10% of patients present with the classic triad of myalgia, muscle weakness and tea-coloured urine; creatine kinase levels greater than 5 times the upper limit of normal are the gold standard for diagnosing rhabdomyolysis that is not related to statin use.