Logo Medical Science Monitor

Call: +1.631.470.9640
Mon - Fri 10:00 am - 02:00 pm EST

Contact Us

Logo Medical Science Monitor Logo Medical Science Monitor Logo Medical Science Monitor

01 September 2006

No pain, no gain: exercise-induced rhabdomyolysis associated with the performance enhancer herbal supplement ephedra.

Christine E. Stahl, Cesar V. Borlongan, Harold Szerlip, Molly Szerlip

Med Sci Monit 2006; 12(9): CS81-84 :: ID: 455262

Abstract

BACKGROUND: We describe a rare case of severe rhabdomyolysis provoked by ingestion of a performance-enhancer herbal supplement containing ephedra. CASE REPORT: A healthy 21-year-old Army soldier complained of "complete muscle failure" after collapsing at the end of Army Physical Fitness Test. The patient was found to be tachycardic and hypotensive, but his vital signs quickly stabilized after receiving sodium chloride in the ambulance. Physical examination of the patient, including a thorough neuromuscular exam, was unremarkable. Urine tested positive for myoglobin. Initial creatinine kinase was 426 U/L, which increased to a maximum creatinine kinase of 241,418 ti/IL by hospital day 6. The patient also developed acute renal failure secondary to pigment-induced actute tubular necrosis. He was treated with bicarbonate-containing fluid. The patient's creatinine kinase and renal function had normalized at one month follow-up. A muscle biopsy was negative for underlying neuromuscular disease. His past medical history was only notable for the patient having taken 2 tablets of an herbal supplement containing ephedra every day for a month leading to his physical fitness test. CONCLUSIONS: Rhabdomvolvsis and myoglobinuric renal failure associated with ephedra use are a very uncommion occurrence, but a significant clinical event that should be closely monitored due to rampant use by young adults of ephedra-containing dietary supplements.

Keywords: Dietary Supplements - adverse effects, Acute Kidney Injury - etiology, Ephedra sinica - adverse effects, Exercise, Plant Preparations - adverse effects, Rhabdomyolysis - etiology

Add Comment 0 Comments

Editorial

01 March 2024 : Editorial  

Editorial: First Regulatory Approvals for CRISPR-Cas9 Therapeutic Gene Editing for Sickle Cell Disease and Transfusion-Dependent β-Thalassemia

Dinah V. Parums

DOI: 10.12659/MSM.944204

Med Sci Monit 2024; 30:e944204

0:00

In Press

18 Mar 2024 : Clinical Research  

Sexual Dysfunction in Women After Tibial Fracture: A Retrospective Comparative Study

Med Sci Monit In Press; DOI: 10.12659/MSM.944136  

0:00

21 Feb 2024 : Clinical Research  

Potential Value of HSP90α in Prognosis of Triple-Negative Breast Cancer

Med Sci Monit In Press; DOI: 10.12659/MSM.943049  

22 Feb 2024 : Review article  

Differentiation of Native Vertebral Osteomyelitis: A Comprehensive Review of Imaging Techniques and Future ...

Med Sci Monit In Press; DOI: 10.12659/MSM.943168  

23 Feb 2024 : Clinical Research  

A Study of 60 Patients with Low Back Pain to Compare Outcomes Following Magnetotherapy, Ultrasound, Laser, ...

Med Sci Monit In Press; DOI: 10.12659/MSM.943732  

Most Viewed Current Articles

16 May 2023 : Clinical Research  

Electrophysiological Testing for an Auditory Processing Disorder and Reading Performance in 54 School Stude...

DOI :10.12659/MSM.940387

Med Sci Monit 2023; 29:e940387

0:00

17 Jan 2024 : Review article  

Vaccination Guidelines for Pregnant Women: Addressing COVID-19 and the Omicron Variant

DOI :10.12659/MSM.942799

Med Sci Monit 2024; 30:e942799

0:00

14 Dec 2022 : Clinical Research  

Prevalence and Variability of Allergen-Specific Immunoglobulin E in Patients with Elevated Tryptase Levels

DOI :10.12659/MSM.937990

Med Sci Monit 2022; 28:e937990

0:00

01 Jan 2022 : Editorial  

Editorial: Current Status of Oral Antiviral Drug Treatments for SARS-CoV-2 Infection in Non-Hospitalized Pa...

DOI :10.12659/MSM.935952

Med Sci Monit 2022; 28:e935952

0:00

Your Privacy

We use cookies to ensure the functionality of our website, to personalize content and advertising, to provide social media features, and to analyze our traffic. If you allow us to do so, we also inform our social media, advertising and analysis partners about your use of our website, You can decise for yourself which categories you you want to deny or allow. Please note that based on your settings not all functionalities of the site are available. View our privacy policy.

Medical Science Monitor eISSN: 1643-3750
Medical Science Monitor eISSN: 1643-3750