To explore the clinical diagnosis and treatment of exertional rhabdomyolysis to improve its therapeutic effects.

The clinical data of 37 cases of exertional rhabdomyolysis were retrospective analyzed. All cases were given symptomatic treatments such as anti-infection, blood volume supplementation, antiemetic and antipyretic treatments, and alkalization of urine. Six patients with severe acute renal insufficiency, serum creatinine over 442 μmol/L, or hyperkalemia were treated by hemodialysis.

The average hospitalization time was 9 (range, 4-25) days. Serum creatine phosphokinase decreased to normal in 37 patients at discharge. After hemodialysis, renal function and electrolytes returned to normal in the six patients with severe acute renal insufficiency.

The initial symptoms of exertional rhabdomyolysis are various and easy to be misdiagnosed or missed. Early detection of serum creatine phosphokinase and myoglobin is helpful for early diagnosis. Symptomatic treatments, such as blood volume supplementation, alkalization of urine, and hemodialysis, are beneficial to the prognosis of patients. Early hemodialysis can effectively improve renal function and reduce mortality in patients with severe acute renal insufficiency caused by exertional rhabdomyolysis.