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Q J Med 2000; 93: 29-33
© 2000 Association of Physicians

Rhabdomyolysis and acute renal failure resulting from alcohol and drug abuse

C.J. Deighan, K.M. Wong1, K.J. Mclaughlin2 and P. Harden1

From the Renal Unit, Glasgow Royal Infirmary, 1 Renal Unit, Western Infirmary, and 2 Renal Unit, Stobhill Hospital, Glasgow, UK

Received 4 August 1999 and in revised form 14 October 1999

Dr C.J. Deighan, Renal Unit, Glasgow Royal Infirmary, Castle Street, Glasgow G4 0SF. e-mail: gri.renal.unit{at}gri.org.uk

Rhabdomyolysis is a common cause of acute renal failure (ARF) associated with drug misuse. Abuse of the gel formulation of temazepam has been a particular problem in the West of Scotland. We performed a retrospective review of dialysis-dependent ARF from rhabdomyolysis and drug misuse in the West of Scotland, 1986–1997. We identified 76 patients, of whom 87% were male. Seventeen cases occurred in the first 6 years, compared with 59 in the subsequent 6 years. Median age was 32. Thirty cases followed intravenous drug misuse, 46 followed oral drug misuse. The substances most frequently misused were alcohol (54%), heroin (24%) and parenteral temazepam (17%). The temazepam cases all followed the introduction of the gel formulation. Three out of 4 patients requiring limb amputation had injected temazepam. Of intravenous drug misusers tested, 72% were hepatitis-C-positive. Some 43% of patients had deprivation scores in the worst category. ARF due to rhabdomyolysis from substance misuse is increasing in our area. Alcohol is frequently responsible. The introduction of the gel formulation of temazepam has contributed to the increase. Those at risk in this study were young, male, had a high incidence of hepatitis C and lived in the most deprived areas.


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