Case of the month: February 1999--54 year old man with severe muscle weakness.
A 54 year old man developed rhabdomyolysis one year after beginning treatment with a combination of lovastatin (an HMGCoA reductase inhibitor) and niacin. Muscle biopsy showed a severe necrotizing myopathy affecting both fibre types. Recovery occured gradually with cessation of medication. The spectrum of cholesterol lowering agent myopathy may include delayed cases of unusual severity.
University of Toronto Neuropathology, St. Michael's Hospital, ON, Canada.
M D
MD
Hill
J M
JM
Bilbao
D001706:Biopsy; D006801:Humans; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008148:Lovastatin / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018908:Muscle Weakness / Q000209:etiology*; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000473:pathology; D009212:Myoglobinuria / Q000209:etiology; D009525:Niacin / Q000009:adverse effects*; D012206:Rhabdomyolysis / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology
D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors; D009525:Niacin; D008148:Lovastatin