title: Interstitial lung disease with pleural effusion caused by simvastin.
abstract: Simvastin, a HMG-CoA reductase blocker, is used for the treatment of certain forms of hypercholesterolaemia. Simvastin is prescribed to lower high serum levels of cholesterol by inhibiting a specific enzyme, hydroxy-methylglutarylCo-enzym-A (HMG-CoA) reductase. This ultimately leads to an increase of the number of LDL-receptors in the liver, and thus, to a decrease of the serum LDL-cholesterol. To a much lesser extent it lowers the serum VLDL-cholesterol and makes the serum HDL-cholesterol level rise. In general, this relatively new compound is well tolerated and only a few, mostly minor, adverse effects have been reported so far. We present a patient who developed interstitial lung disease with pleural effusion most probably as a result of the use of Simvastin.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pulmonology, Leiden University Hospital, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: R E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: De Groot
authors.forename: L N
authors.initials: LN
authors.lastname: Willems
authors.forename: J H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Dijkman
mesh_terms: D000924:Anticholesteremic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors; D008148:Lovastatin / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*; D017563:Lung Diseases, Interstitial / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010996:Pleural Effusion / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D011859:Radiography; D019821:Simvastatin
chemical_list: D000924:Anticholesteremic Agents; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors; D008148:Lovastatin; D019821:Simvastatin