title: Fatal rhabdomyolysis caused by lipid-lowering therapy.
abstract: Treatment of hypercholesterolemia has been shown to reduce mortality in patients with coronary artery disease. Patients with severe lipid abnormalities may require high-dose statin therapy, at times used in combination with additional agents. We report a case of fatal rhabdomyolysis caused by the combination of simvastatin and gemfibrozil. Clinicians should be aware of risk factors for rhabdomyolysis, which include underlying renal insufficiency, high-dose statin therapy, and combination therapy with a fibrate.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine and the Pharmacy Service, VA Connecticut Health Care System, West Haven, CT 06516, USA.
authors.forename: D G
authors.initials: DG
authors.lastname: Federman
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Hussain
authors.forename: A B
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Walters
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D004347:Drug Interactions; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D015248:Gemfibrozil / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006937:Hypercholesterolemia / Q000188:drug therapy*; D000960:Hypolipidemic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008297:Male; D012206:Rhabdomyolysis / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000503:physiopathology; D019821:Simvastatin / Q000009:adverse effects*
chemical_list: D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors; D000960:Hypolipidemic Agents; D019821:Simvastatin; D015248:Gemfibrozil