Primary human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) infection (acute retroviral syndrome) has been well characterized as a mononucleosis-like illness. Manifestations of HIV-1 infection such as pharyngitis, fever, morbilliform rash, myalgias, arthralgias, nausea, headache, emesis, and lymphadenopathy have been reported. Acute rhabdomyolysis has been reported as part of the acute retroviral syndrome on 11 different occasions. We report the case of a primary HIV-1 infection with acute rhabdomyolysis and review critically the other case reports.