Statin-associated myasthenia gravis: report of 4 cases and review of the literature

Medicine (Baltimore). 2006 Mar;85(2):82-85. doi: 10.1097/01.md.0000209337.59874.aa.

Abstract

A few recent individual case reports have suggested that a myasthenic syndrome may be associated with statin treatment, but this association is not well described. We report 4 patients who developed symptoms of myasthenia gravis within 2 weeks of starting treatment with a statin drug. In 1 case the drug appears to have exacerbated underlying myasthenic weakness, whereas in the other 3 cases, de novo antibody formation appears to be most likely. In each case, some degree of recovery followed discontinuation of the statin medication.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Autoantibodies / blood
  • Female
  • Fluorobenzenes / administration & dosage
  • Fluorobenzenes / therapeutic use
  • Humans
  • Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors / adverse effects*
  • Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors / therapeutic use
  • Hyperlipidemias / drug therapy
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Myasthenia Gravis / chemically induced*
  • Myasthenia Gravis / immunology
  • Pravastatin / adverse effects
  • Pravastatin / therapeutic use
  • Pyrimidines / administration & dosage
  • Pyrimidines / therapeutic use
  • Receptors, Cholinergic / immunology
  • Rosuvastatin Calcium
  • Simvastatin / adverse effects
  • Simvastatin / therapeutic use
  • Sulfonamides / administration & dosage
  • Sulfonamides / therapeutic use

Substances

  • Autoantibodies
  • Fluorobenzenes
  • Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors
  • Pyrimidines
  • Receptors, Cholinergic
  • Sulfonamides
  • Rosuvastatin Calcium
  • Simvastatin
  • Pravastatin