title: Statin-associated myopathy and the quest for biomarkers: can we effectively predict statin-associated muscle symptoms?
abstract: Over the past three decades, statins have become the cornerstone of prevention and treatment of atherosclerotic cardiovascular and metabolic diseases. Albeit generally well tolerated, these drugs can elicit a variety of muscle-associated symptoms that represent the most important reason for treatment discontinuation. Statin-associated myopathy has been systematically underestimated by randomized controlled trials as compared with the incidence observed in clinical practice and obtained from patient registries. There are several reasons for this discrepancy, among which the lack of reliable diagnostic tests and a validated questionnaire to assess muscle symptoms are recognized as unmet needs. Here, we review the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying statin-associated myopathy and discuss the experimental and clinical data on various biomarkers to diagnose and predict muscle-related complaints.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathophysiology Functional Sciences, Victor Babeş University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Timisoara, Timisoara, Romania; Center for Translational Research and Systems Medicine, Victor Babeş University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Timisoara, Timisoara, Romania.
authors.forename: Danina M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Muntean
authors.affiliation: Division of Cardiology, Hartford Hospital, Hartford, CT, USA.
authors.forename: Paul D
authors.initials: PD
authors.lastname: Thompson
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences, University of Milan, IRCCS Multimedica, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Alberico L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Catapano
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Polish Mother's Memorial Hospital-Research Institute in Lodz, Lodz, Poland.
authors.forename: Mariusz
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Stasiolek
authors.affiliation: Department of Arthroscopy, Minimally Invasive Surgery and Sports Traumatology, Medical University of Lodz, Poland.
authors.forename: Jaroslaw
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Fabis
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA.
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Muntner
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathophysiology Functional Sciences, Victor Babeş University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Timisoara, Timisoara, Romania; Department of Epidemiology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA.
authors.forename: Maria-Corina
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Serban
authors.affiliation: Department of Hypertension, Chair of Nephrology and Hypertension, Medical University of Lodz, Poland; Healthy Aging Research Centre (HARC), Medical University of Lodz, Lodz, Poland. Electronic address: maciejbanach@aol.co.uk.
authors.forename: Maciej
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Banach
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis*; D004347:Drug Interactions; D006801:Humans; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D009135:Muscular Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012307:Risk Factors
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors