Disorder resembling Guillain-Barré syndrome on initiation of statin therapy.
We report a disorder resembling Guillain-Barre syndrome, occurring on initiation of simvastatin, in a 58-year-old man, who had experienced a similar but milder episode after starting pravastatin 6 months earlier. This case suggests that acute polyradiculoneuropathy may represent a rare but serious side-effect of statin treatment. It also raises the issue of the pathophysiology of acute neuropathy on statin exposure, with a hypersensitivity reaction resulting in an immune-mediated process being possible instead of the hypothesized mitochondrial dysfunction in chronic cases.
Rajabally
Yusuf A
YA
Department of Neurology, University Hospitals of Leicester, Royal Infirmary, Leicester LE1 5WW, United Kingdom. yusuf.rajabally@uhl-tr.nhs.uk <yusuf.rajabally@uhl-tr.nhs.uk>
Varakantam
Vivek
V
Abbott
Richard J
RJ
D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D020275:Guillain-Barre Syndrome / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors / Q000009:adverse effects*; D016756:Immunoglobulins, Intravenous / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011129:Polyradiculoneuropathy / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000175:diagnosis; D019821:Simvastatin / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use
D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors; D016756:Immunoglobulins, Intravenous; D019821:Simvastatin