# When Medications Backfire: A Case Report of Rifaximin-Induced Rhabdomyolysis in a Kidney Transplant Patient

## TL;DR

A kidney transplant patient developed severe muscle damage from the medication rifampicin, complicated by a rejection of the transplanted kidney.

## Contribution

This case report highlights rifampicin as a rare cause of rhabdomyolysis in kidney transplant recipients.

## Key findings

- Rifampicin-induced rhabdomyolysis occurred in a kidney transplant patient.
- The patient also experienced acute cellular rejection, complicating the clinical picture.

## Abstract

Rhabdomyolysis involves significant skeletal muscle injury and destruction, which can be triggered by trauma, intense physical activity, heat, prolonged immobility, certain medications, and endocrine disorders. Rhabdomyolysis in renal transplants can be more complicated, and the prognosis is not well known, especially in the context of coexisting rejection. We present a case of rifampicin-induced rhabdomyolysis with superimposed acute cellular rejection in a kidney transplant patient.