Heart attack or rhabdomyolysis?

Abstract

Statins are commonly used drugs in the treatment of hyperlipidemia (HL), despite some undesirable side effects. These range from mild symptoms such as myopathy, muscle weakness and myalgia to severe muscle weakness associated with chronic myopathy and acute renal failure (ARF) as a result of rhabdomyolysis. The most serious and deadly side effect of statins is rhabdomyolysis. The case presented here is of a patient with rhabdomyolysis due to treatment with the antihyperlipidemic drug, atorvastatin.

Keywords

• Rhabdomyolysis
• Atorvastatin
• Heart attack
• Statin