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- CLINICA NEUROL, 46: 312－316, 2006
- Vol.46 No.5 contents
Case Report
A steroid-responsive case of severe rhabdomyolysis associated with cytomegalovirus infection
Keishiro Sato, M.D.1), Makoto Yoneda, M.D.1), Koji Hayashi, M.D.1), Hiroto Nakagawa, M.D.1), Itsuro Higuchi, M.D.2) and Masaru Kuriyama, M.D.1)
1)Second Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Fukui
2)Department of Neurology and Gerontrics, Kagoshima University Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences
A 31-year-old man was admitted to our hospital, complaining of muscular weakness and pain in the legs one month after a common cold. On admission, neurological examinations demonstrated moderate weakness in the arms and mild weakness in the legs with decreased or diminished deep tendon reflexes, and mild dysphagia. Weakness was gradually extended to the arm, throat and respiratory muscles, requiring artificial ventilation. Laboratory examinations demonstrated increased levels of CK (upto 24,380 IU/L) and positive anti-cytomegalovirus (CMV)-IgM antibodies in the serum, and myogloburinuria. CMV was not detected in either the blood cells or muscles by PCR. There were no antibodies against viruses including Ebstein-Barr virus and HIV, in the serum. There were no autoantibodies related to collagen diseases in the serum. Systemic PET scan did not show any evidence of malignancy. Bone marrow biopsy did not show any atypical cells. Muscle MRI demonstrated mild atrophy with high intensity signals in part. Muscle biopsy demonstrated scattered necrotic and regenerated muscle fibers without inflammatory cell infiltration. The patient was therefore diagnosed as having rhabdomyolysis associated with CMV infection. After three courses of intravenously administered high dose methylprednislone over three days, muscle weakness improved gradually, and the serum CK level was normalized in two months. The patient recovered and was removed from artificial ventilation three months after the therapy. There were no sign of renal failure. Steroid therapy should be considered for the treatment of rhabdomyolysis or myopathy associated with CMV infection in order to prevent renal failure or fatal progression of the disease.
(CLINICA NEUROL, 46: 312－316, 2006)
key words: cytomegalovirus, rhabdomyolysis, steroid
(Received: 2-Aug-05)
