Hypothyroidism Misdiagnosed as Statin Intolerance
Authors: Eric V. Krieger
Journal: Annals of Internal Medicine (2009)

Letters7 July 2009Hypothyroidism Misdiagnosed as Statin IntoleranceEric V. Krieger, MD and Robert H. Knopp, MDEric V. Krieger, MDFrom University of Washington Medical Center, Seattle, WA 98195. and Robert H. Knopp, MDFrom University of Washington Medical Center, Seattle, WA 98195.Author, Article, and Disclosure Informationhttps://doi.org/10.7326/0003-4819-151-1-200907070-00018 SectionsAboutFull TextPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissions ShareFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditEmail Background: Hypothyroidism is a common cause of dyslipidemia. It can also cause myositis.Objective: To describe a case of hypothyroidism-induced dyslipidemia and myositis misattributed to statin intolerance.Case Report: A man age 56 years presented to a specialty lipid clinic for management of combined hyperlipidemia and myositis. A lipid disorder was diagnosed in this patient in the 1990s during routine screening by his primary care physician. He was prescribed atorvastatin and tolerated it well. However, an abnormal coronary angiogram in 2001 prompted the patient's cardiologist to intensify his lipid-lowering therapy. Over the next several years, the atorvastatin dose was increased ...References1. Duntas LH. Thyroid disease and lipids. Thyroid. 2002;12:287-93. [PMID: 12034052] CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar2. O'Brien T, Dinneen SF, O'Brien PC, Palumbo PJ. Hyperlipidemia in patients with primary and secondary hypothyroidism. Mayo Clin Proc. 1993;68:860-6. [PMID: 8371604] CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar3. Canaris GJ, Manowitz NR, Mayor G, Ridgway EC. The Colorado thyroid disease prevalence study. Arch Intern Med. 2000;160:526-34. [PMID: 10695693] CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar4. Monzani F, Caraccio N, Kozàkowà M, Dardano A, Vittone F, Virdis A, et al. Effect of levothyroxine replacement on lipid profile and intima-media thickness in subclinical hypothyroidism: a double-blind, placebo- controlled study. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2004;89:2099-106. [PMID: 15126526] CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar5. Brown WV. Safety of statins. Curr Opin Lipidol. 2008;19:558-62. [PMID: 18957877] CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar Author, Article, and Disclosure InformationAuthors: Eric V. Krieger, MD; Robert H. Knopp, MDAffiliations: From University of Washington Medical Center, Seattle, WA 98195.Disclosures: None disclosed. PreviousarticleNextarticle Advertisement FiguresReferencesRelatedDetails Metrics Cited byCase report: Rhabdomyolysis and kidney injury in a statin-treated hypothyroid patient–kill two birds with one stoneDrug Effects on the ThyroidAmerican Association Of Clinical Endocrinologists And American College Of Endocrinology Position Statement On Thyroid Dysfunction Case FindingHypothyroidism as a risk factor for statin intoleranceThyroid disease and the nervous systemNeurological complications of systemic disorders 7 July 2009Volume 151, Issue 1Page: 72KeywordsCholesterolCreatine kinaseDyslipidemiaHypothyroidismLipidsLow density lipoproteinMusclesMyalgiaMyositisStatins ePublished: 7 July 2009 Issue Published: 7 July 2009 Copyright & PermissionsCopyright © 2009 by American College of Physicians. All Rights Reserved.PDF downloadLoading ...