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Case Reports
. 2021 Mar;28(2):115-117.
doi: 10.1136/ejhpharm-2019-002102. Epub 2019 Nov 7.

Statin-induced autoimmune myopathy: a case report

Natalia Alzueta  1 , Marta Marin  2 , Marta Castresana  2 , Ana Gascón  2 , María Pío  2 , María Jesús Iguzquiza  3
Affiliations
Case Reports

Statin-induced autoimmune myopathy: a case report

Natalia Alzueta et al. Eur J Hosp Pharm. 2021 Mar.

Abstract

Statins are widely used in the treatment of hypercholesterolemia. Muscle weakness and elevated creatine kinase (CK) are frequent side effects of statins with an incidence of about 15%. Statin-associated myopathy is more common in people who receive multiple drugs, the elderly or women but the mechanism underlying it is still unclear. These symptoms generally improve after drug discontinuation. However, there is a type of autoimmune mediated myopathy characterised by the persistence of muscle weakness and CK elevation after stopping statins. Herein, we discuss a case of autoimmune myopathy associated with statin exposure and responsive to immunossupresive drugs. The increased use of statins in recent years raises the importance of acquaintance with this disease in clinical practice.

Keywords: adverse effect; anti-HMGCR antibodies; immune-mediated necrotising myopathy; myopathy; statin.

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Conflict of interest statement

Competing interests: None declared.

References

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