Immune-mediated necrotizing myopathy (IMNM) is very often linked to the use, whether prolonged or not, of statins. These cholesterol-lowering molecules are prescribed to nearly one in four Americans. Chilean clinicians have studied the possible alternatives to this treatment to combat the underlying dyslipidemia:
- the researchers report the case of a 65-year-old patient treated for four years with atorvastatin who developed classic IMNM with anti-HMGCR antibodies.
- The patient’s condition improved significantly after discontinuation of the incriminating statin and prolonged immunosuppressive treatment (corticoids, azathioprine).
- the dyslipidemia was controlled with the addition of ezetimibe (Ezetrol®).