[Toxic rhabdomyolysis after alcohol and drug intoxications (author's transl)].

The clinical picture of toxic rhabdomyolysis after alcohol and drug intoxications is characterized by severe pain, swelling, and inability to move the affected muscle group. The disintegration of necrotic muscle tissue leads to hyperkalaemia, excessive increase of creatine kinase in serum, and a myorenal syndrome with anuria. Pathogenetically the combined effects of toxic vascular damage and local pressure and cold influence are assumed to occur. In anuria, resistant to conventional medication, early and repeated plasma exchanges are considered to be a therapeutic alternative to haemodialysis.