Myoglobinuria

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**Myoglobinuria**
*Classification & external resources*
ICD-10	R82.1
ICD-9	791.3

Myoglobinuria is the presence of myoglobin in the urine, usually associated with rhabdomyolysis or muscle destruction. Myoglobin is present in muscle cells as a reserve of oxygen. Trauma, vascular problems, venoms, certain drugs and other situations can destroy or damage the muscle, releasing myoglobin to the circulation and thus to the kidneys. Under ideal situations myoglobin will be filtered and excreted with the urine, but if too much myoglobin is released into the circulation or in case of renal problems, it can occlude the renal filtration system leading to acute tubular necrosis and acute renal insufficiency.It should be noted that information from the Pfizer pharmaceuticals web site states "rare cases of rhabdomyolysis with acute renal failure secondary to myoglobinuria have been reported with ATORVASTATIN and with other drugs in its class." "It is recommended that liver function tests be performed prior to and at 12 weeks following the initiation of this drug theraphy" For the uninitiated "Atorvastatin" is the most widly prescribed drug used to control cholesterol levels in humans.