Statin induced myopathy

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Sivakumar Sathasivam, consultant in neurology,
Bryan Lecky, consultant in neurology

¹Department of Neurology, Walton Centre for Neurology and Neurosurgery, Liverpool L9 7LJ

Correspondence to: S Sathasivam sivakumar.sathasivam{at}thewaltoncentre.nhs.uk

Accepted 8 October 2008

Since their introduction for the treatment of hypercholesterolaemia in 1987, the use of statins has grown to over 100 million prescriptions per year.1 About 1.5-3% of statin users in randomised controlled trials and up to 10-13% of participants enrolled in prospective clinical studies develop myalgia.1 2 3 4 As a conservative estimate, at least 1.5 million people per year will experience a muscle related adverse event while taking a statin. In this review we discuss statin induced myopathy and its management in the light of recent epidemiological studies, randomised controlled trials, and guidelines.

How common is statin induced myopathy?

In one large, population based cohort study of patients from general practices in the United Kingdom between 1991 and 1997, the mean incidence of myopathy (defined in this trial as muscle weakness and raised concentrations of creatine kinase) in patients taking statins was 1.2 per 10 000 person years (95% confidence interval 0.3 to 4.7).5 In another large study that examined rhabdomyolysis in a hospital population, the average incidence per 10 000 person years for monotherapy with atorvastatin, pravastatin, or simvastatin was 0.44 (0.20 to 0.84) and for cerivastatin was 5.34 (1.46 to 13.68).6

What is the clinical spectrum of statin induced myopathy?

The clinical spectrum of statin induced myopathy includes myalgia, myositis, rhabdomyolysis, and an asymptomatic increase in the concentration of creatine kinase. Muscle related adverse events can be difficult to describe because the terminology used is inconsistent, but the proposed definitions in the table⇓ provide a useful guide. The term myopathy is often used to include the entire spectrum of muscle related adverse events (as in this article), but other definitions are common, especially when the term is used in clinical trials.

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Clinical spectrum of statin induced myopathy

What are the clinical features of statin induced myopathy?

Symptoms of statin induced myopathy include fatigue, muscle pain, muscle tenderness, muscle weakness, nocturnal cramping, and tendon pain. The muscle symptoms …