The authors describe three cases of rhabdomyolysis and acute renal failure. In all patients rhabdomyolysis developed in conjunction with ingestion of alcohol, in two moreover in combination with compression of an extremity by body weight during prolonged immobility. One patient was hospitalized on the day when rhabdomyolysis developed, the second one more than 24 hours after and the third one only several days after development of the condition. In none of them the diagnosis was established before the development of renal failure. All were subjected repeatedly to haemodialysis. One patient died from a complication--embolism of the brain--the remaining two patients recovered without sequelae. In the discussion the authors deal with reasons of late diagnosis of the disease.