Can Statins Cause Chronic Low-Grade Myopathy?
Authors: Scott M. Grundy
Journal: Annals of Internal Medicine (2002)

Editorials1 October 2002Can Statins Cause Chronic Low-Grade Myopathy?Scott M. Grundy, MD, PhDScott M. Grundy, MD, PhDAuthor, Article, and Disclosure Informationhttps://doi.org/10.7326/0003-4819-137-7-200210010-00015 SectionsAboutFull TextPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissions ShareFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditEmail Statins (hydroxymethyl glutaryl coenzyme A reductase inhibitors) are highly effective drugs for reducing serum cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels. Clinical trials have shown that they also reduce risk for coronary heart disease events, coronary procedures, and stroke by about one third (1). Millions of people in the United States and worldwide are being treated with statins. In clinical trials and in clinical practice, statins have proved to be remarkably safe.The one notable side effect of statin therapy is myopathy. A small fraction of patients who are treated with statins will develop severe myopathy (2). In the worst cases, ...References1. . Executive Summary of The Third Report of The National Cholesterol Education Program (NCEP) Expert Panel on Detection, Evaluation, And Treatment of High Blood Cholesterol in Adults (Adult Treatment Panel III). JAMA. 2001;285:2486-97. [PMID: 11368702] CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar2. Staffa JA, Chang J, Green L. Cerivastatin and reports of fatal rhabdomyolysis [Letter]. N Engl J Med. 2002;346:539-40. [PMID: 11844864] CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar3. Pasternak RC, Smith SC, Bairey-Merz CN, Grundy SM, Cleeman JI, Lenfant C. ACC/AHA/NHLBI clinical advisory on the use and safety of statins (1) (2). J Am Coll Cardiol. 2002;40:567-72. [PMID: 12142128] CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar4. Phillips PS, Haas RH, Bannykh S, Hathaway S, Gray NL, Kimura BJ, et al . Statin-associated myopathy with normal creatine kinase levels. The Scripps Mercy Clinical Research Center. Ann Intern Med. 2002;137:581-5. LinkGoogle Scholar Author, Article, and Disclosure InformationAffiliations: Current Author Address: Scott M. Grundy, MD, PhD, Center for Human Nutrition and the Departments of Clinical Nutrition and Internal Medicine, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas, 5323 Harry Hines Boulevard, Y3.206, Dallas, TX 75390-9052.Disclosures:Honoraria (from Merck & Co.; Pfizer, Inc.; Bristol-Myers Squibb; and Bayer); Grants (from Merck & Co. and Pfizer, Inc.) PreviousarticleNextarticle Advertisement FiguresReferencesRelatedDetailsSee AlsoStatin-Associated Myopathy with Normal Creatine Kinase Levels Paul S. Phillips , Richard H. Haas , Sergei Bannykh , Stephanie Hathaway , Nancy L. Gray , Bruce J. Kimura , Georgirene D. Vladutiu , John D.F. England , and Statin-Associated Myopathy with Normal Creatine Kinase Levels Mark H. 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Hyman, MDStatin-Associated Myopathy with Normal Creatine Kinase LevelsJosh Torgovnick, MD and Edward Arsura, MDColesevelam HCl: a non-systemic lipidaltering drugRisks and benefits of continued aggressive statin therapyCurrent Awareness: Pharmacoepidemiology and Drug SafetyStatins and myotoxicityStatin-induced myopathy with normal creatine kinase levels? 1 October 2002Volume 137, Issue 7Page: 617-618KeywordsCholesterolClinical trialsCoronary heart diseaseCreatine kinaseMuscle biopsiesMusclesMyalgiaNutritionSafetyStatins ePublished: 1 October 2002 Issue Published: 1 October 2002 Copyright & PermissionsCopyright © 2002 by American College of Physicians. All Rights Reserved.PDF downloadLoading ...