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.
Hill
M D
MD
University of Toronto Neuropathology, St. Michael's Hospital, ON, Canada.
Bilbao
J M
JM
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