COVID-19 and severe rhabdomyolysis causing acute kidney injury and life-threatening hyperkalemia: A case report

Introduction Though initially believed to primarily be a respiratory pathogen, the SARS-CoV-2 virus has manifested as a virus that has the potential to affect multiple organ systems causing a wide variety of disease and symptomatology. Case Presentation Here we present a teenager with acute COVID-19 who presented to the hospital with severe rhabdomyolysis causing life-threatening hyperkalemia and acute kidney injury requiring treatment with emergent renal replacement therapy in the intensive care unit. Conclusions Rhabdomyolysis and acute kidney injury are increasingly recognized as complications of acute SARS-CoV-2 infection, and require vigilance given the associated risk of morbidity and mortality.