Polymyxin B-induced rhabdomyolysis: A case report

RATIONALE: Polymyxin B has been used to treat extensively drug-resistant gram-negative bacteria and shown a better antibacterial effect in the clinic at present. Meanwhile, polymyxin B is associated with several adverse effects. However, there is a lack of awareness that polymyxin B can cause rhabdomyolysis. In this study, we firstly report a case of polymyxin B-induced rhabdomyolysis during antiinfection therapy. PATIENT CONCERNS: A 70-year-old woman suffering from rheumatic heart disease underwent aortic and mitral valve replacement at our institute. Subsequently, she developed bacteremia and pneumonia caused by extensively drug resistance-acinetobacter baumannii. Polymyxin B was administered for 5 days. During treatment, the patient complained of muscle pain and limb weakness, and her serum creatine phosphokinase and myoglobin levels rose. DIAGNOSIS: The clinical symptoms and laboratory examination confirmed rhabdomyolysis, and polymyxin B-induced rhabdomyolysis was considered. INTERVENTION: We ceased polymyxin B treatment and monitored the patient daily. OUTCOMES: Serum creatine phosphokinase levels returned to normal, myoglobin levels decreased, and muscle pain was significantly alleviated after cessation of polymyxin B. We identified this as a case of polymyxin B-induced rhabdomyolysis. LESSONS: Here, we report the first reported case of rhabdomyolysis induced by polymyxin B administration. The awareness of rare adverse reaction helps ensure the clinical safety of polymyxin B treatment.