title: Simvastatin-induced rhabdomyolysis and acute renal injury.
abstract: Simvastatin is one of the most commonly prescribed CoA reductase inhibitors. The safety profile of this drug has been widely discussed in the medical and consumer advocacy communities. Like other statins, simvastatin can cause a serious and potentially life-threatening complication: rhabdomyolysis. We describe a case of simvastatin-induced rhabdomyolysis complicated by acute renal failure requiring urgent hemodialysis. The relative safety of simvastatin compared to other HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors and the conditions that can potentiate its toxicity are discussed. The clinical features of rhabdomyolysis, and subsequent acute renal failure, and their treatment modalities are presented.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, King Abdulaziz Medical City, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. n4a1w@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Abdelkarim
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Waness
authors.forename: Sami
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bahlas
authors.forename: Saad
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Al Shohaib
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007674:Kidney Diseases / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy; D008875:Middle Aged; D006435:Renal Dialysis; D012206:Rhabdomyolysis / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000150:complications*; D019821:Simvastatin / Q000009:adverse effects*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D019821:Simvastatin