A man staggers into the clinic. He is known to be a heavy cocaine and alcohol user. Part of the clinical data gathered includes a urine sample, which is very dark in color. He complains of weakness and has a "small" seizure in the exam room. The practitioner suspects that he may have ____.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The symptoms described, including dark-colored urine, weakness, and a seizure, suggest rhabdomyolysis. This condition involves the breakdown of muscle tissue releasing a protein (myoglobin) into the bloodstream, which can lead to kidney damage. Heavy cocaine and alcohol use are risk factors for rhabdomyolysis.

A Man Staggers into the Clinic