title: Statins can induce myasthenia gravis.
abstract: The 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase inhibitors, or statins, are commonly prescribed for prevention of cardiovascular morbidity. A rare side effect of statin medication is the induction of autoimmune illnesses, including myasthenia gravis (myasthenia). Here we present two patients with seropositive myasthenia that developed 4 weeks after initiation of atorvastatin, increasing the total reported patients to seven. Reviewing recent literature we highlight the connections between statins, auto-immunity and myasthenia. Statins may favour T-cell phenotypes that reduce cell-mediated immunity but could increase antibody-mediated humoral immunity.
authors.affiliation: Auckland District Health Board Ophthalmology Services, Auckland, New Zealand.
authors.forename: Jesse
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gale
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, University of Auckland, Private Bag 92019, Auckland Mail Centre, Auckland 1142, New Zealand. Electronic address: h.daneshmeyer@auckland.ac.nz.
authors.forename: Helen V
authors.initials: HV
authors.lastname: Danesh-Meyer
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000069059:Atorvastatin; D015551:Autoimmunity / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D006538:Heptanoic Acids / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009157:Myasthenia Gravis / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology; D011758:Pyrroles / Q000009:adverse effects*
chemical_list: D006538:Heptanoic Acids; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors; D011758:Pyrroles; D000069059:Atorvastatin
keywords: Autoantibodies; Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA reductase inhibitors; Myasthenia gravis; Nicotinic; Receptors; T-lymphocyte subsets