Muscle Characteristics Associated With Statin Therapy

Muscle Characteristics Associated With Statin Therapy

The purpose of this study is to investigate the mechanism of statin-related myopathy by evaluating muscle samples before and after statin exposure.

Statins have been proven to reduce cardiovascular events and mortality in large clinical trials but remain underutilized partly due to the associated myopathy. Severe reactions manifested as rhabdomyolysis are rare but myalgia is commonly noted in clinical practice. The pathophysiology of these events remains obscure. Previous studies suggest that statins block the downstream products (such as cellular signaling molecules) of the mevalonate pathway needed for normal muscle function. Other studies show that statins are associated with gene expressions involved in muscle damage such as atrogin-1. We will quantify these entities pre and post statin therapy to better understand these reactions.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Primary surgeon's permission.
• Patient is > 21 years of age.
• Patient will go through a two phase surgery with the two procedures one to eight months apart.
• Patient or representative understands the nature of the study.
• Normal thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH).
• LDL-cholesterol > 100 mg/dL or highly sensitive C-reactive protein (hsCRP) > 2.0.
• One of the following risk factors: male > 45 year old or female > 55 year old, smoker, hypertension, first degree family history of coronary artery disease < 55 year old, HDL <40 mg/dL, chronic kidney disease, diabetes mellitus, previous TIA or stroke, previous coronary artery disease.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Has been on a lipid-lowering medication previously.
• Severe illness (e.g. trauma or sepsis) more than 24 hours before obtaining the first biopsy.
• Less than a 10% reduction of LDL after 3 months of therapy (indicative of non-adherence).
• Contraindications to statins such as liver failure.
• History of underlying muscle disorder.
• Taking amiodarone.