Statin Toxicity From Macrolide Antibiotic Coprescription
Authors: Houman Farzin, Mai Takematsu, Robert S. Hoffman
Journal: Annals of Internal Medicine (2013)

Letters15 October 2013Statin Toxicity From Macrolide Antibiotic CoprescriptionHouman Farzin, MD, Mai Takematsu, MD, and Robert S. Hoffman, MDHouman Farzin, MDFrom McGill University, Montréal, Québec, Canada; New York City Poison Control Center, Bellevue Hospital Center, and New York University School of Medicine, New York, New York; and Bellevue Hospital Center and New York University School of Medicine, New York, New York.Search for more papers by this author, Mai Takematsu, MDFrom McGill University, Montréal, Québec, Canada; New York City Poison Control Center, Bellevue Hospital Center, and New York University School of Medicine, New York, New York; and Bellevue Hospital Center and New York University School of Medicine, New York, New York.Search for more papers by this author, and Robert S. Hoffman, MDFrom McGill University, Montréal, Québec, Canada; New York City Poison Control Center, Bellevue Hospital Center, and New York University School of Medicine, New York, New York; and Bellevue Hospital Center and New York University School of Medicine, New York, New York.Search for more papers by this authorAuthor, Article, and Disclosure Informationhttps://doi.org/10.7326/0003-4819-159-8-201310150-00017 SectionsAboutFull TextPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissions ShareFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditEmail TO THE EDITOR:We read Patel and colleagues’ study (1) assessing statin toxicity and concomitant macrolide antibiotic prescription with interest. Although we commend the authors for performing this much-needed study, we have several concerns about the study design and interpretation of the results.The investigators attempted to control for the cytochrome P450 isoenzyme 3A4 (CYP3A4)–inhibiting macrolides with azithromycin, stating that this agent has indications and patterns of clinical use similar to those of clarithromycin and erythromycin. Given the fact that the actual indications for antibiotic use are unknown in more than half of the participants, we believe that this comparison ...Reference1. Patel AM, Shariff S, Bailey DG, Juurlink DN, Gandhi S, Mamdani M, et al. Statin toxicity from macrolide antibiotic coprescription: a population-based cohort study. Ann Intern Med. 2013;158:869-76 LinkGoogle Scholar Author, Article, and Disclosure InformationAuthors: Houman Farzin, MD; Mai Takematsu, MD; Robert S. Hoffman, MDAffiliations: From McGill University, Montréal, Québec, Canada; New York City Poison Control Center, Bellevue Hospital Center, and New York University School of Medicine, New York, New York; and Bellevue Hospital Center and New York University School of Medicine, New York, New York.Disclosures: None disclosed. PreviousarticleNextarticle Advertisement FiguresReferencesRelatedDetailsSee AlsoObservation Versus Initial Treatment for Men With Localized, Low-Risk Prostate Cancer Julia H. Hayes , Daniel A. Ollendorf , Steven D. Pearson , Michael J. Barry , Philip W. Kantoff , Pablo A. Lee , and Pamela M. McMahon Statin Toxicity From Macrolide Antibiotic Coprescription Sonja Gandhi and Amit X. Garg Metrics 15 October 2013Volume 159, Issue 8Page: 574-575KeywordsAntibioticsCohort studiesElderlyErythromycinStatinsToxicity ePublished: 15 October 2013 Issue Published: 15 October 2013 Copyright & PermissionsCopyright © 2013 by American College of Physicians. All Rights Reserved.PDF downloadLoading ...