Gynecomastia possibly induced by rosuvastatin.
Gynecomastia is characterized by benign progressive enlargement of the male breast. A pharmacologic origin is identified in 10-20% of cases. Several case reports have associated this condition to the use of statins. However, to our knowledge, no case of rosuvastatin-induced gynecomastia has been reported in the literature. We describe a 57-year-old man who developed bilateral gynecomastia after 2 months of rosuvastatin therapy. After switching to a different statin, atorvastatin, his symptoms resolved within 1 month. Use of the Naranjo adverse drug reaction probability scale indicated a possible relationship between the patient's development of gynecomastia and rosuvastatin therapy. The relatively strong effect of rosuvastatin on inhibiting steroidogenesis might have explained why our patient's gynecomastia occurred only with this agent. Clinicians should be aware of the possibility of adverse endocrine reactions when statins are prescribed, including newer agents such as rosuvastatin.
Oteri
Alessandro
A
Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine and Pharmacology, Section of Pharmacology, University of Messina, Messina, Italy.
Catania
Maria Antonietta
MA
Travaglini
Rita
R
Russo
Alessandra
A
Giustini
Saffi E
SE
Caputi
Achille P
AP
Polimeni
Giovanni
G
D000069059:Atorvastatin; D005464:Fluorobenzenes / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006177:Gynecomastia / Q000139:chemically induced*; D006538:Heptanoic Acids / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011336:Probability; D011743:Pyrimidines / Q000009:adverse effects*; D011758:Pyrroles / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000068718:Rosuvastatin Calcium; D013256:Steroids / Q000096:biosynthesis; D013449:Sulfonamides / Q000009:adverse effects*
D005464:Fluorobenzenes; D006538:Heptanoic Acids; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors; D011743:Pyrimidines; D011758:Pyrroles; D013256:Steroids; D013449:Sulfonamides; D000068718:Rosuvastatin Calcium; D000069059:Atorvastatin