Abstract
Exertional rhabdomyolysis can destroy muscle but the pathophysiology is unknown. Using intracellular selective microelectrodes, we found that intracellular Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]i) was 1·27 (0·17) μmol/L (median and interquartile range) in skeletal-muscle biopsy specimens from patients with exertional rhabdomyolysis compared with 0·12 (0·01) μmol/L in controls. 3 days treatment with dantrolene, a drug that inhibits Ca2+ release from the sarcoplasmic reticulum, decreased [Ca2+]i to 0·22 (0·05) μmol/L and accelerated patients' recovery. This study demonstrated that exertional rhabdomyolysis is associated with elevated [Ca2+]i, and that dantrolene has a beneficial effect in this syndrome.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 424-425 |
Number of pages | 2 |
Journal | The Lancet |
Volume | 345 |
Issue number | 8947 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Feb 18 1995 |
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Medicine(all)