Any condition that results in the destruction of muscle cells can lead to this type of condition. This can happen, for example, with marathon runners and with very hard army training. Gustavo Ferreira, nephrologist, former president and member of the advisory board of ABTO (Brazilian Organ Transplant Association)
In the case of the film, the passengers have to go without food or drink for an extended period of time, which may have resulted in severe dehydration of the survivors.
Ferreira believes that in the specific case of the work that represents the tragedy in the Andes, the loss of potassium due to malnutrition and dehydration, coupled with a large loss of electrolytes, was the cause of the illness.
What health risks are there?
The biggest complications are precisely related to the darkening of urine. “When it comes into contact with the kidneys, this released substance causes kidney damage,” explains Ferreira.
Kidney damage and the disease affect the urinary system, increasing the concentration of toxins in the body and can lead to further complications such as cardiac arrhythmias and, in more serious cases, collapse of other organs.