The importance of considering rhabdomyolysis as the underlying cause of myalgia in patients with COVID-19: A case report

Abstract

Objective: Since the identification and spread of the novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in December 2019, respiratory presentations have been introduced as the main symptoms of this new type of viral disease; however, the extra-pulmonary features are raising awareness for researchers due to the vast diversity of vital organs affected by the virus. Among the wide range of clinical manifestations, limited data are available regarding rhabdomyolysis (RML) in COVID-19. Case Presentation: In this report, we present a 58-year-old woman with COVID-19 presenting with RML, with extremely elevated creatinine phosphokinase (CPK) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) levels (3283 and 1280 U/L, respectively) as the second sign of disease. Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, several COVID-19 induced RML cases have been reported, and timely diagnosis and proper management are of paramount importance. Conclusion: Due to the findings that rhabdomyolysis can be a critical and missed cause of myalgia in COVID-19 patients, the importance of checking the serum level of CPK in patients with myalgia and fatigue in the era of COVID-19 upon their arrival will be highlighted.