title: Statin-associated cerebellar ataxia. A Brazilian case series.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Drug-induced cerebellar ataxias (DICA) represent an important group of secondary cerebellar ataxias. Herein, we reported a case series of progressive cerebellar ataxia induced by HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors (statins).
  
  
  METHODS
  Observational study with a Brazilian case series of patients with cerebellar ataxia due to statins use.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We described four patients with cerebellar ataxia, predominantly gait ataxia, due to statins use. Mean age was 67.5 years old, predominantly male, with several comorbidities, such as dyslipidemia, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and myocardial revascularization. After statin withdrawal, and treatment with coenzyme Q10 in some patients, progressive improvement of gait ataxia was observed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We presented a case series of four patients with cerebellar ataxia due to statins use, which represents a new rare side-effect of statins, probably related to coenzyme Q10 deficiency.
authors.affiliation: Movement Disorders Unit, Neurology Service, Internal Medicine Department, Hospital de Clínicas, Federal University of Paraná, Curitiba, PR, Brazil. Electronic address: hagteive@mps.com.br.
authors.forename: Hélio A G
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: Teive
authors.affiliation: Movement Disorders Unit, Neurology Service, Internal Medicine Department, Hospital de Clínicas, Federal University of Paraná, Curitiba, PR, Brazil.
authors.forename: Adriana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Moro
authors.affiliation: Movement Disorders Unit, Neurology Service, Internal Medicine Department, Hospital de Clínicas, Federal University of Paraná, Curitiba, PR, Brazil.
authors.forename: Mariana
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Moscovich
authors.affiliation: Movement Disorders Unit, Neurology Service, Internal Medicine Department, Hospital de Clínicas, Federal University of Paraná, Curitiba, PR, Brazil.
authors.forename: Walter O
authors.initials: WO
authors.lastname: Arruda
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Morton and Gloria Shulman Movement Disorders Centre, Toronto Western Hospital, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.
authors.forename: Renato Puppi
authors.initials: RP
authors.lastname: Munhoz
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001938:Brazil; D002524:Cerebellar Ataxia / Q000139:chemically induced*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged
chemical_list: D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors
keywords: Acquired cerebellar ataxias; Cerebellar ataxia; HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors; Secondary ataxias; Statins