Diabetologia
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The frequency of nontraumatic rhabdomyolysis in diabetic ketoacidosis was investigated by serial measurements of the serum levels of myoglobin and the serum activity of creatine kinase isoenzyme MM in 12 consecutively admitted ketoacidotic patients. In 5 patients (Group 1) we found hypermyoglobinaemia and elevated activity of creatine kinase isoenzyme MM on admission to hospital, whereas these two variables were normal in 7 patients (Group 2). ⋯ The serum concentration of hypoxanthine (an indicator of the cellular energy state) was elevated in all patients on admission, with no difference between patients with or without hypermyoglobinaemia. In conclusion, our findings suggest that nontraumatic rhabdomyolysis with hypermyoglobinaemia and elevated serum activity of creatine kinase isoenzyme MM may be a hitherto unrecognized common feature of diabetic ketoacidosis.