Reactions 967 - 6 Sep 2003

Atorvastatin/pravastatin

Myopathy: case reportA man [age not stated] developed myopathy while receiving

atorvastatin and again while receiving pravastatin.The man developed nonspecific aches and pains without

weakness while receiving atorvastatin 5mg [frequency ofadministration and therapeutic indication not clearly stated].He also experienced a burning sensation in his muscles afterexercise but, approximately 7 months after startingatorvastatin, his creatine kinase level was found to be normal(3.14 µkat/L). Atorvastatin was continued until almost 1 yearlater when his creatine kinase level, 24 hours after exercise,was found to be elevated at 4.8 µkat/L.

Following atorvastatin withdrawal, his aches and painsresolved gradually and, several weeks later, his serum creatinekinase level was 3.19 µkat/L after vigorous exercise. Hesubsequently started pravastatin [dosage not stated] due toelevated serum cholesterol and his symptoms recurred with acreatine kinase level of 4.98 µkat/L after exercise. [Patientoutcome not stated.]

Author comment: "As more patients with this syndromeare identified, perhaps less invasive evaluation might includethe use of exercise provocation to watch for an increase increatine kinase level."Torgovnick J, et al. Statin-associated myopathy with normal creatine kinase levels.Annals of Internal Medicine 138: 1007, 17 Jun 2003 - USA 800947043

» Editorial comment: This case was reported in response to areport of four similar cases [see Reactions 927: 3, 9 Nov 2002;800888336].

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Reactions 6 Sep 2003 No. 9670114-9954/10/0967-0001/$14.95 Adis © 2010 Springer International Publishing AG. All rights reserved