[A case of interstitial lung disease with atorvastatin (Tahor) and a review of the literature about these effects observed under statins].
The 3-Hydroxy-3-methyl-glutaryl coenzyme A (HGM-CoA) reductase inhibitors, or statins, are competitive inhibitors of the rate-limiting enzyme in cholesterol synthesis. Generally, statins have an excellent safety profile. Elevations of liver transaminases and creatine phosphokinase with myalgia have been associated with the use of HGM-Co A reductase inhibitors, case reports of rhabdomyolysis are rare, most occurring with concomitant use with other drugs such as cyclosporin, fusidic acid and gemfibrozil. We describe here the clinical case of a patient who developed interstitial lung disease as probably a result of the use of statins which particularly increased with long-term atorvastatin treatment. The present review details some case-reports of interstitial lung disease reported under statins in the literature. Few systemic adverse effects such as lupus-like-syndromes and polymyositis have been reported. Recent experimentations have demonstrated that cholesterol is not the only intracellular target of statins but that they also have a potential role in atherosclerosis and in organ transplantation as immunosuppressor agents.
Veyrac
Gwenaëlle
G
Centre Régional de Pharmacovigilance, Institut de Biologie, Nantes, France. pharmacovigilance@chu-nantes.fr
Cellerin
Laurent
L
Jolliet
Pascale
P
D000069059:Atorvastatin; D006538:Heptanoic Acids / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008168:Lung / Q000473:pathology; D017563:Lung Diseases, Interstitial / Q000139:chemically induced*; D011758:Pyrroles / Q000009:adverse effects*; D013902:Radiography, Thoracic; D012206:Rhabdomyolysis / Q000139:chemically induced
D006538:Heptanoic Acids; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors; D011758:Pyrroles; D000069059:Atorvastatin