A Case of Statin-Associated Immune-Mediated Necrotizing Myopathy, Successfully Treated With Intravenous Immunoglobulin

Statins have become the commonest lipid-lowering agent worldwide and have significantly reduced morbidity and mortality associated with cardiovascular diseases. Overall, statins are very well tolerated. However, in clinical practice, a wide variety of skeletal myopathic effects have been observed, ranging from asymptomatic patients with high creatine phosphokinase (CPK) to fatal cases of acute rhabdomyolysis. Recent reports suggest that statins are associated with immune-mediated necrotizing myopathy (IMNM), a unique autoimmune myopathy. Unlike other drug reactions, this can occur months to years after initiation of statin. It is a distinctive autoimmune myopathy where symptoms persist or even progress after statin discontinuation and requires immunosuppressive therapy. The presence of anti-hydroxy-methyl-glutaryl coenzyme-A reductase (HMGCR) antibody in serum strengthens the diagnosis of statin-associated necrotizing myopathy. Here we present a case of statin-associated IMNM in a 43-year-old Caucasian female who had statin-induced progressive deterioration of proximal muscle weakness with poor response to high-dose steroids and required further immunosuppressive therapy.