An international consortium of clinicians, including researchers from the Institute*, examined specific cases of statin-associated autoimmune necrotizing myopathy (IMNM), particularly those involving anti-HMGCR autoantibodies:
- four patients experienced spontaneous remission after discontinuing statins, without the need for heavy immunosuppressive therapy,
- this remission lasted 6 to 12 months,
- however, two of the patients relapsed upon reintroduction of their statin therapy,
- it should be noted that these patients, who had become asymptomatic again, retained an immunological signature, with persistent autoantibodies against the HMGCR protein.
The authors remain divided on the general approach to take in cases of MNAI diagnosis. Should certain patients be given the chance to recover spontaneously after discontinuing statins?
* Allenbach Y, Benveniste O. are co-directors of the Inflammatory myopathies & innovative therapies team at the Center of Research in Myology of the Institute
