Statin-Associated Autoimmune Myopathy
updated
Mammen AL. Statin-Associated Autoimmune Myopathy. N Engl J Med. 2016 Feb;374(7):664–9. PubMed #26886523.
Tags: medications, muscle, random, harms, self-treatment, treatment, pain problems
PainSci summary of Mammen 2016?This page is one of thousands in the PainScience.com bibliography. It is not a general article: it is focused on a single scientific paper, and it may provide only just enough context for the summary to make sense. Links to other papers and more general information are provided at the bottom of the page, as often as possible. ★★★☆☆?3-star ratings are for typical studies with no more (or less) than the usual common problems. Ratings are a highly subjective opinion, and subject to revision at any time. If you think this paper has been incorrectly rated, please let me know.
A good review of the phenomenon of muscle pain caused by statins, the popular and important drugs we take to lower cholesterol. For more information, see Dr. Harriet Hall’s reporting on the paper, or my summary of the issue in 25 Surprising Causes of Pain.
original abstract†Abstracts here may not perfectly match originals, for a variety of technical and practical reasons. Some abstacts are truncated for my purposes here, if they are particularly long-winded and unhelpful. I occasionally add clarifying notes. And I make some minor corrections.
Statins are widely used and lower the risk of death from cardiovascular causes. In a fraction of patients, an autoimmune myopathy may develop, characterized by the development of autoantibodies to the target enzyme, HMG-CoA reductase.
related content
- “Statin Therapy: Risks vs Benefit: An Expert Interview With Eliot A. Brinton, MD,” a webpage on Medscape CME.
- “Effects of Statins on Skeletal Muscle: A Perspective for Physical Therapists,” an article in Physical Therapy, 2010.
- “A systematic review of statin-induced muscle problems in clinical trials,” an article in Am Heart J, 2014.
Specifically regarding Mammen 2016:
These two articles on PainScience.com cite Mammen 2016 as a source:
- PS Trigger Points & Myofascial Pain Syndrome — A guide to the unfinished science of muscle pain, with reviews of every theory and self-treatment and therapy option
- PS 25 Surprising Causes of Pain — Trying to understand pain when there is no obvious explanation
