Rhabdomyolysis Secondary to COVID-19 Vaccination

Cureus. 2021 May 13;13(5):e15004. doi: 10.7759/cureus.15004.

Abstract

Rhabdomyolysis has been described as a complication of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection, but few cases of rhabdomyolysis associated with COVID-19 vaccination have been reported. We described a case of an 80-year-old male who developed rhabdomyolysis two days after receiving his second dose of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine. He presented with severe weakness, myalgias, and an initial creatinine kinase (CK) of 6,546 IU/L that improved with intravenous fluids. Common causes of rhabdomyolysis were excluded including statin use, strenuous exercise, and trauma. With the increasing immunization efforts against COVID-19, physicians should consider the possibility of rhabdomyolysis when a patient presents with neuromuscular complaints following vaccination.

Keywords: covid-19; myalgia; non-traumatic rhabdomyolysis; sars-cov-2 vaccination; vaccine.

Publication types

  • Case Reports