School of Medicine and Health Sciences Poster Presentations
Survival after profound acidosis and rhabdomyolysis due to dietary supplement use
Document Type
Poster
Keywords
profound acidosis; rhabdomyolysis; dietary supplement
Publication Date
4-2017
Abstract
Severe acidosis below a pH of 6.7 is rarely compatible with life. We describe a case of a 40-year-old man who presented to the emergency department with altered mental status and syncope. His initial arterial blood gas demonstrated a pH of 6.6 and a lactate of more than 20 mmol/L. The patient was intubated, started on sodium bicarbonate, and admitted to the critical care unit. During his hospitalization, he developed rhabdomyolysis with creatinine kinase reaching more than 158 000 IU/L and subsequent renal failure requiring hemodialysis. After an extensive evaluation, his presentation was attributed to dietary supplement use and exercise. With the widespread popularity of supplements and the limited regulation of the industry by the Food and Drug Administration, it is essential that emergency providers be aware of the potential for supplements to have adverse effects and appropriately counsel patients on the risks involved with dietary supplementation.
Creative Commons License
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Open Access
1
Survival after profound acidosis and rhabdomyolysis due to dietary supplement use
Severe acidosis below a pH of 6.7 is rarely compatible with life. We describe a case of a 40-year-old man who presented to the emergency department with altered mental status and syncope. His initial arterial blood gas demonstrated a pH of 6.6 and a lactate of more than 20 mmol/L. The patient was intubated, started on sodium bicarbonate, and admitted to the critical care unit. During his hospitalization, he developed rhabdomyolysis with creatinine kinase reaching more than 158 000 IU/L and subsequent renal failure requiring hemodialysis. After an extensive evaluation, his presentation was attributed to dietary supplement use and exercise. With the widespread popularity of supplements and the limited regulation of the industry by the Food and Drug Administration, it is essential that emergency providers be aware of the potential for supplements to have adverse effects and appropriately counsel patients on the risks involved with dietary supplementation.
Comments
Poster to be presented at GW Research Day 2017.