Recurrent Post-Viral Rhabdomyolysis in a 36-Year-Old Male: A Case Report

Rhabdomyolysis is a syndrome of skeletal muscle breakdown, releasing intracellular contents such as creatine kinase (CK) and myoglobin into the bloodstream, which can precipitate acute kidney injury (AKI).1 While trauma, extreme exertion, and toxins are frequent culprits, infections, particularly viral illnesses, represent a less common but significant trigger.2 Influenza and other respiratory viruses have been implicated in sporadic cases of rhabdomyolysis, often presenting with acute myalgias and elevated CK levels following a viral prodrome.3 In contrast, recurrent rhabdomyolysis is typically associated with inherited metabolic myopathies (e.g., McArdle disease) or autoimmune myositis, conditions often marked by distinct genetic or inflammatory characteristics.4,5 The intersection of viral infections with recurrent muscle breakdown, however, remains poorly explained, posing diagnostic and therapeutic challenges. Here, we report a case of an African American male with a decade-long history of recurrent rhabdomyolysis linked to viral infections, lacking a clear genetic or autoimmune etiology, offering insight into this rare clinical phenomenon.