title: Muscle symptoms associated with statins: a series of twenty patients.
abstract: The aim of this study was to examine the clinical profile of statin-induced myalgia in patients with no apparent predisposing factors. Patients who reported muscle complaints that limited daily functioning during statin use were prospectively identified among the patients of Kuusankoski District Hospital and its catchment area, a population of about 100,000, between January 2003 and July 2004. Twenty patients in whom the muscle complaints were probably attributable to the use of a statin were included in this series. There were no cases of severe myopathy or rhabdomyolysis, and the highest creatine kinase value observed was only about 1900 U/l. Of the 18 patients that were evaluable for creatine kinase level, 5 (28%) did not exhibit elevation of creatine kinase and 6 (33%) showed a minor increase only. Following discontinuation of the statin, resolution of symptoms and normalisation of creatine kinase occurred in 11 of the 13 patients with elevated creatine kinase value as well as muscle complaints. Statins may cause clinically important muscle symptoms without inducing a marked creatine kinase elevation.
authors.affiliation: District Hospital of Kuusankoski, Kuusankoski, Finland.
authors.forename: Kari
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Soininen
authors.forename: Mikko
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Niemi
authors.forename: Esa
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kilkki
authors.forename: Timo
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Strandberg
authors.forename: Kari T
authors.initials: KT
authors.lastname: Kivistö
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000924:Anticholesteremic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects*; D000069059:Atorvastatin; D003402:Creatine Kinase / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006538:Heptanoic Acids / Q000009:adverse effects; D006801:Humans; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009135:Muscular Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000201:enzymology; D017035:Pravastatin / Q000009:adverse effects; D011758:Pyrroles / Q000009:adverse effects; D019821:Simvastatin / Q000009:adverse effects
chemical_list: D000924:Anticholesteremic Agents; D006538:Heptanoic Acids; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors; D011758:Pyrroles; D000069059:Atorvastatin; D019821:Simvastatin; D003402:Creatine Kinase; D017035:Pravastatin