Statins are first-line drugs for prevention and treatment of hypercholesterolemia and atherosclerotic disease. Despite the fact that statins are generally well tolerated and have a positive impact on human health, their myotoxic properties should keep physicians on alert. Mechanisms of statin-induced myopathy are still not fully understood. Phenotypic characteristics of patients, individual statin properties, and metabolic interaction with other drugs are important factors that may increase risk for statin myopathy. The lowest effective dose of statin should be used during treatment. Early recognition of myopathy and discontinuation of statin is critical in preventing serious sequelae such as rhabdomyolysis with all its complications.
aDivision of Nephrology, Department of Medicine, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA.
Address reprint requests to Miroslaw Smogorzewski, MD, LAC/USC Medical Center, 1200 N State St No. 4250, Los Angeles, CA 90033.
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