Table of Contents
Is CK elevated in statin myopathy?
Myopathy known to occur with statins A clinical diagnosis of myopathy is made when there is muscle pain or weakness accompanied by a creatine kinase (CK) level more than ten times the upper limit of normal.
How do you test for statin induced myopathy?
Initial blood tests should include creatine kinase (to assess muscle damage) and thyroid stimulating hormone (because hypothyroidism is a common cause of hypercholesterolaemia and raised creatine kinase, and predisposes to statin induced myopathy).
What does statin induced myopathy feel like?
Statin-related muscle pain, if it happens at all, usually happens within the first few months after you start the drug or raise the dose. You may feel a constant soreness or weakness in your shoulders, thighs, hips, or calves. If you’re like most people, it’ll affect both sides of your body equally.
Which enzyme is biomarker of statin induced muscle damage?
CK, a biomarker of muscle damage, is commonly used to detect skeletal muscle damage and its severity. However, CK levels are frequently normal in symptomatic patients assuming statins, while may be increased in asymptomatic patients [19,20].
Do statins increase creatine kinase levels?
STOMP demonstrated that high-dose statin treatment for 3 and 6 months increased CK levels in healthy adults by 27 and 21 U/L, respectively, but did not impair skeletal muscle function or exercise performance [2].
Do statins raise CPK levels?
Large clinical trials have established that statins are effective in the primary and secondary prevention of coronary heart disease 1,2. However, their use is associated with muscle pains, raised creatine phosphokinase (CPK) and rarely with rhabdomyolysis, which can be fatal 3.
How long does it take for statin induced myopathy to resolve?
For most patients, myopathy symptoms induced by statin therapy resolve relatively quickly; however, the results of the PRIMO study showed that it may take up to 2 months for resolution of symptoms.
Do you need regular blood tests with statins?
Before starting to take statins, you should have a blood test to ensure your liver is in a relatively good condition. You should also have a routine blood test to check the health of your liver 3 months after treatment begins, and again after 12 months.
Can statins lower CK levels?
Statins could also increase CK levels by reducing inflammation.
When do you check CK on statins?
If the patient is receiving a statin and fibrate combination therapy CK is monitored every 6 months due to the increased risk of myopathy.
Is statin induced myopathy reversible?
The injury is dose dependent and reversible after withdrawing the drug, with most recovery of symptoms occurring within 2–3 months (3). However, a different form of statin myopathy has been identified in recent years.
How common is statin induced myopathy?
The most common complaint associated with statins, according to the American College of Cardiology, is myopathy, a muscle disorder, which may occur in up to a third of statin users. Statin-induced myopathy brings on muscle-related symptoms that didn’t exist prior to when you started taking a statin.
Can statins affect blood test results?
Studies of very large numbers of people estimate that among those taking a statin, only one in 1,000 of them would have an abnormal liver test result attributable to the medication. Other studies found that abnormal test results were about as common in people who took a statin or a placebo.
Can muscle damage caused by statins be reversed?
The majority of muscle damage by statins is secondary to its direct toxic effects, possibly via coenzyme Q10 depletion causing mitochondrial dysfunction. The injury is dose dependent and reversible after withdrawing the drug, with most recovery of symptoms occurring within 2–3 months (3).
Do you need to check LFTs after starting statin?
Patients with normal LFTs prior to starting statins A yearly check of LFTs is not required for patients who are stable on long-term treatment. If ALT <150: continue statin but recheck LFTs within 4 weeks to exclude further increase in ALT.
How long does statin induced myopathy last?
Which statin causes the most myopathy?
The incidence of myopathy was highest for rosuvastatin and lowest for fluvastatin. Statin-associated myopathy may be dose related.