A case of myositis with immunological background associated with statin use

Abstract

<jats:title>Abstract</jats:title><jats:p>Statins might cause and/or aggravate the immune-mediated myositis in patients on long-term, stable treatment. We provide a case of polymyositis with an immunological background and gastrointestinal and urinary manifestations in patient on long-term, stable atorvastatin treatment for the past six years. The diagnose of polymyositis was established based on clinical symptoms and signs, electromyography and laboratory test results (elevated aspartate aminotransferase 279 U/L, reference range 0–40 U/L; alanine aminotransferase 198 U/L, 0–33 U/L; lactate dehydrogenase 2200 U/L, 103-227 U/L; creatine kinase 7820 U/L, 15–84 U/L; and positive antinuclear antibodies test, titer of 1:160, with suspect antisynthetase antibodies). Polymyositis was probably related to atorvastatin treatment (Naranjo score, 5). Other probable causes of the myositis were rejected. Coricosteroid therapy, methotrexate and supplementation with vitamin D did not improve the condition. The patient remained bedridden and died two months after the hospital discharge due to the acute myocardial infarction.</jats:p>

Polymyositis, Dermatomyositis, and Statins: A Review

“…In this context, some cases of association of statins with polymyositis [3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16] and with dermatomyositis [10][11][12]15,[17][18][19][20][21][22][23][24][25][26][27][28][29][30][31][32][33][34][35] have been described.…”