Renal Salt Wasting: Earliest Manifestation of Rhabdomyolysis, Supreet/Mehandru Syndrome

Acute kidney injury is a feared and common complication of rhabdomyolysis, occurring in 10-40% of hospitalized patients with mortality rate as high as 59% in critically ill patients. However, there is a lack of information in the literature on renal salt wasting in rhabdomyolysis. We report 3 cases of rhabdomyolysis who developed renal salt wasting in presence of normal glomerular filtration rate. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first case report in humans displaying this phenomenon. Authors noted that all the three patients had urine pH of over 7.0. Literature reveals, patients with rhabdomyolysis and urine pH<6.5 develop acute kidney injury whereas urine pH>7.0 experienced renal salt wasting in presence of normal glomerular filtration rate. All 3 cases, previously not known to have hypertension, were noted to have elevated blood pressure during acute phase of rhabdomyolysis. Animal studies have shown that increase in blood pressure causes increase in renal interstitial pressures that results in naturesis and diuresis. All 3 cases had increased levels of plasma renin activity and aldosterone. There is a direct proportionality between increased blood pressure and naturesis. Clinicians should be aware of salt wasting as an early renal manifestation in patients with rhabdomyolysis