Blood tests for creatine kinase, a product of muscle breakdown and urine tests for myoglobin, a relative of hemoglobin that is released from damaged muscles can help diagnose rhabdomyolysis. Other tests may rule out other problems, confirm the cause of rhabdomyolysis, or check for complications.
Common complications of rhabdomyolysis include very high levels of potassium in the blood which can lead to an irregular heartbeat or cardiac arrest and kidney damage (which occurs in up to half of patients). About one in four also develop problems with their liver. A condition called compartment syndrome may also occur after fluid resuscitation. This serious compression of nerves, blood vessels, and muscles can cause tissue damage and problems with blood flow.