Hypokalemia and rhabdomyolysis.

Since the occurrence of rhabdomyolysis may elevate the serum concentration of potassium, hypokalemia as a cause of rhabdomyolysis often goes unrecognized in many instances. We undertook this study to evaluate the occurrence and determinants of rhabdomyolysis in the hypokalemic state. To identify patients with a hypokalemic state, we reviewed medical admissions for the period January 1988 through December 1989. A total of 120 patients (42 men and 78 women) were included in the present study. Thirty-eight hypokalemic patients showed biochemical evidence of rhabdomyolysis (serum creatine phosphokinase >244 IU/l)