Serious side effects of statins, including severe myopathy and rhabdomyolysis, are rare but important in general practice. Hypothyroidism can cause secondary hypercholesterolemia and myopathy. There have been few reports on the risk of statins in patient with unnoticed hypothyroidism. We analyzed the characteristics of 77 patients with primary hypothyroidism in our hospital. Nine patients (11%) accidentally received statins in the treatment of hypercholesterolemia without diagnosis of hypothyroidism. In such patients, free T4 (FT4) levels were lower, and those of LDH, CK were higher than those in patients not receiving statins. In patients accidentally receiving statins, an inverse correlation between CK and FT4 could not be shown (which was recognized in patients not receiving them). Even after FT4 levels were matched, levels of CK were still higher in the patients accidentally receiving statins. Patients with high CK levels over 1000 U/L were 5 times more frequent (56%) in patients accidentally receiving statins than in those not receiving statins (11%). The present study confirms that statins enhances levels of CK in patients with hypothyroidism. We must not begin and continue to use these drugs without checking the possibility of hypothyroidism.
Abstract.A 31-year-old woman had ureterolithiasis related to hypercalcemia, and when she was admitted to our hospital ultrasonography and technetium-99 m sestamibi scintigraphy did not detect parathyroid abnormalities. Serum concentrations of calcium and intact parathyroid hormone were 9.7 mg/dl and 153 pg/ml, respectively, but subsequently increased to 13.5 mg/dl and decreased to 10 pg/ml, respectively. Diagnostic interview revealed that she had been taking excessive calcium supplements of 3,000~5,000 mg/day because she was worried about developing osteoporosis. Her hypercalcemia was cured after she stopped taking the supplements. The present case indicates that calcium supplementation of more than 2,500 mg/day elicits adverse effects on body mineral balance. Clear indications of the upper limits to supplements should be made known to the consumers.
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