Aim: We investigated whether changes of liver and muscle enzymes activity are associated with rigor of several causes and have any prognostic significance.
Methods: Seventy-five patients with rigor were prospectively evaluated. Serum enzymes were measured at the onset of rigor and during the three following days.
Results: Causes of rigor were bacteremia (n=28), cholangiitis (n=12), protozoan infections (n=9), viral infections (n=10) and platelet transfusions (n=16). Increases in enzymes activity were observed with rigors from infectious causes, but not with that following platelet transfusions. Patients with cholangiitis demonstrated the highest ALT elevations, while those with viral infections the highest CPK levels. In bacteremia, CPK values increased significantly only in cases with dehydration and hypokalemia.
Conclusions: Rigor per se does not cause increases in muscle or liver enzymes activities. Rather these changes are associated with the rigor's causative agent (infectious or not), the patient's general condition and the severity and extent of the underlying disease.