title: Colchicine triggered severe rhabdomyolysis after long-term low-dose simvastatin therapy: a case report.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Rhabdomyolysis is a widely recognized yet rare complication in statin use. Rhabdomyolysis might be triggered by the prescription of high doses of statins or by statin accumulation due to interactions with concomitant medication. Muscle cell destruction as evidenced by myoglobin elevation can induce potentially life-threatening acute renal failure.
  
  
  METHODS
  We report a case of a 70-year-old obese white man with sudden onset of severe rhabdomyolysis with consecutive renal failure. His medication included low-dose simvastatin, which he had taken for 6 years up until the event. The statin was withdrawn immediately. After 3 days of veno-venous hemofiltration his renal function was completely restored.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Clinicians in both primary and special care might be unaware that side effects of statins do occur even after a long uneventful statin medication; they should be advised not to exclude that possibility upfront, even if a patient has tolerated the medication for years.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neuropathology, University Hospital Leipzig, Liebigstrasse 26, House G, 04103, Leipzig, Germany. clara.frydrychowicz@medizin.uni-leipzig.de.
authors.forename: Clara
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Frydrychowicz
authors.affiliation: Medical Intensive Care Unit, University Hospital Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany.
authors.forename: Bastian
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Pasieka
authors.affiliation: Medical Intensive Care Unit, University Hospital Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany.
authors.forename: Matthias
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pierer
authors.affiliation: Department of Neuropathology, University Hospital Leipzig, Liebigstrasse 26, House G, 04103, Leipzig, Germany.
authors.forename: Wolf
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Mueller
authors.affiliation: Medical Intensive Care Unit, University Hospital Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany.
authors.forename: Sirak
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Petros
authors.affiliation: Medical Intensive Care Unit, University Hospital Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany.
authors.forename: Lorenz
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Weidhase
mesh_terms: D058186:Acute Kidney Injury / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000628:therapy; D000368:Aged; D003078:Colchicine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D000069438:Ezetimibe / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006074:Gout Suppressants / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008297:Male; D009765:Obesity / Q000150:complications*; D012206:Rhabdomyolysis / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000188:drug therapy; D019821:Simvastatin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D006074:Gout Suppressants; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors; D019821:Simvastatin; D000069438:Ezetimibe; D003078:Colchicine
keywords: Anti-HMGCR-antibody; Case report; Colchicine; Rhabdomyolysis; Statin therapy; Statin-associated myopathies (SAM)