Understanding rhabdomyolysis induced acute kidney injury in patients with COVID-19

This work comments on an article published in the recent issue of the <i>World Journal of Virology</i>. Rhabdomyolysis is a complex condition with symptoms such as myalgia, changes to urination, and weakness. With the potential for substantial kidney impairment, it has also been shown to be a severe complication of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). To date, various theoretical explanations exist for the development of rhabdomyolysis induced acute kidney injury (RIAKI) in COVID-19 infection, including the accumulation of released striated muscle myoglobin in the urine (myoglobinuria). In their article, they (2024) demonstrate in a retrospective study that RIAKI in COVID-19 patients tended to have elevated levels of C-reactive protein, ferritin, and procalcitonin. These patients also had poorer overall prognoses when compared to COVID-19 patients who have acute kidney injury (AKI) due to other causes. It is clear from these findings that clinicians must closely monitor and assess for the presence of rhabdomyolysis in COVID-19 patients who have developed AKIs. Moreover, additional research is required to further understand the mechanisms behind the development of RIAKI in COVID-19 patients in order to better inform treatment guidelines and protocols.