Protect your patient’s kidneys
Rhabdomyolysis results in release of myoglobin into the bloodstream. Excessive myoglobin can accumulate in the kidneys and lead to acute kidney injury (AKI).
CytoSorb in severe rhabdomyolysis
CytoSorb® hemoadsorption goes beyond renal replacement therapies – it can help support the recovery of kidney function when conventional strategies to remove myoglobin alone prove ineffective.
Hyperinflammation caused by rhabdomyolysis can aggravate AKI and should also be addressed. Early protection of the kidneys helps improve the patient’s prognosis, and early myoglobin clearance may even help prevent AKI.
CytoSorb is a unique technology that’s proven to effectively, safely and simultaneously reduce both elevated levels of cytokines and myoglobin, thereby supporting the recovery of renal function.
CytoSorb can be used to address important challenges in severe rhabdomyolysis
Manage rhabdomyolysis
CytoSorb has been shown to effectively and safely remove elevated levels of myoglobin, while additionally addressing any concomitant hyperinflammation, helping in the management of rhabdomyolysis.
Rhabdomyolysis can cause serious damage:
Rapid breakdown of the skeletal muscles
Myoglobin released into the bloodstream
Myoglobin accumulates in renal tubules
Excessive myoglobin levels may result in:
- Oxidative stress
- Inflammatory response
- Endothelial dysfunction
- Renal vasoconstriction
- Apoptosis
- Cellular and granular casts
AKI – Acute Kidney Injury
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Rapid breakdown of the skeletal muscles
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Myoglobin released into the bloodstream
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Myoglobin accumulates in renal tubules
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Excessive myoglobin levels may result in:
- Oxidative stress
- Inflammatory response
- Endothelial dysfunction
- Renal vasoconstriction
- Apoptosis
- Cellular and granular casts
-
AKI – Acute Kidney Injury
By removal of elevated myoglobin, CytoSorb Therapy can help to restore kidney function:
Effective myoglobin removal
Attenuation of hyperinflammation
Superior performance vs standalone HCO-filter
Rhabdomyolysis
Treatment Rationale & Guidance
Protect your patient’s kidneys from massive myoglobin release
Intercept excess myoglobin early, accelerate its removal from the bloodstream, prevent cast formation in the renal tubules, reduce both local and systemic inflammation, and support the preservation and recovery of kidney function.
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Avert the impact of massive myoglobin release
Forni et al.Removes myoglobin through direct adsorber binding
Once released in high concentrations, myoglobin induces damage to the proximal tubuli via reactive oxygen species, reducing excretory function, while myoglobin precipitations block the distal tubuli. AKI occurs in up to 40% of affected pts.
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Avoid SoC side effects
Chavez et al.Reduces fluid (over)loading and need for enforced diuresis
Diuretics such as furosemide plus NaCl infusion are meant to dilute ”the problem” and enforce urine production; however this might add further pressure to the distal tubuli as they are blocked with myoglobin casts, while high amounts of fluids might stress the cardiac system of specific patients.
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Support dialysis procedures
Albrecht et al.Overcomes the filtration limits of dialysers/HCOs
Filtration systems are destined for long, slow myoglobin removal; but to alleviate the imminent pressure on the kidneys, more potent adsorbers should be considered as first choice for early & forceful relief
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Control systemic inflammation processes
Jansen et al.Safeguards renal parenchyma from DAMPs/mediators
Being it traumatic or infection driven, rhabdomyolysis is often associated with lots of inflammatory mediators being released. Putting a hold to their overshooting impact is a further rationale to select an adsorber over a filter.
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Preserve and restore organ function
Graefe et al.Kidney: normalizes filtration capacity and urine production
Unburdening quickly from myoglobin and inflammation, both contributing to AKI development, is the ultimate therapy goal and likewise rationale for a treatment approach with CytoSorb.
Additional Information
- Albrecht et al., Blood Purif 2024; 53(2):88-95
- Grafe et al., Ren Fail 2023; 45(2):2259231
- Scharf et al., Crit Care 2021; 25(1):41
- Chavez et al., Crit Care 2016; 20(1):135
- Boutaud et al., Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 2010; 107(6):2699-704
- Bosch et al., N Engl J Med 2009; 361(1):62-72
- Khan et al., Neth J Med 2009; 67(9):272-283
- Chatzizisis et al., Eur J Intern Med 2008; 19(8):568-574
- Jansen et al., Crit Care 2023; 27(1):117
- Weidhase et al., BMC Nephrology (2025) 26:23
- Graf et al., Annals of Intensive Care 2024; 14(1):96
- Forni et al., BMC Nephrology 2024; 25(1):247
Voices around the world
Access Healthcare Professionals Area
This area is for Health Care Professionals only and provides reports about clinical experiences gained during the use of CytoSorbents products. The information presented reflects the opinions and procedural techniques of individual physicians and is not intended as medical advice. Physician experience, risks, patient outcomes and results may vary. This content is intended for Health Care Professionals outside the United States and Canada as CytoSorb has not yet been approved or cleared in the United States or Canada for any indication, except under an Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) by the US FDA.