title: Statin-associated myasthenia gravis: report of 4 cases and review of the literature.
abstract: A few recent individual case reports have suggested that a myasthenic syndrome may be associated with statin treatment, but this association is not well described. We report 4 patients who developed symptoms of myasthenia gravis within 2 weeks of starting treatment with a statin drug. In 1 case the drug appears to have exacerbated underlying myasthenic weakness, whereas in the other 3 cases, de novo antibody formation appears to be most likely. In each case, some degree of recovery followed discontinuation of the statin medication.
authors.affiliation: From Midwest Eye Institute and Indiana University Medical Center, Departments of Ophthalmology and Neurology (VP, A Kawasaki), Indianapolis, Indiana; Scott and White Eye Institute (KHS), Temple, Texas; and Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center, Department of Ophthalmology, Neuro-ophthalmology Unit (A Kesler), Tel Aviv, Israel.
authors.forename: Valerie
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Purvin
authors.forename: Aki
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kawasaki
authors.forename: Kyle H
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: Anat
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kesler
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D005464:Fluorobenzenes / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006949:Hyperlipidemias / Q000188:drug therapy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009157:Myasthenia Gravis / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000276:immunology; D017035:Pravastatin / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011743:Pyrimidines / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011950:Receptors, Cholinergic / Q000276:immunology; D000068718:Rosuvastatin Calcium; D019821:Simvastatin / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013449:Sulfonamides / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D001323:Autoantibodies; D005464:Fluorobenzenes; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors; D011743:Pyrimidines; D011950:Receptors, Cholinergic; D013449:Sulfonamides; D000068718:Rosuvastatin Calcium; D019821:Simvastatin; D017035:Pravastatin