Approximately 2% to 7% of statin users develop myalgias. Elevated serum creatine kinase (CK) levels occur in 0.1% to 1.0% of users, whereas the incidence of severe weakness or myoglobinuria is much lower (Amato AA and Russell J. Neuromuscular Disease. McGraw-Hill; 2008:737). The cause of statin myopathy is unknown. To identify genetic variants that contribute to statin-induced myopathy, researchers conducted a genome-wide association study in 85 people with definite myopathy (CK 10 times the upper limit of normal [ULN], with symptoms) or incipient myopathy (CK 3 times ULN or 5 times baseline level, with or without symptoms) and 90 controls. All were taking 80 mg of simvastatin daily as part of a trial involving 12,000 participants.
The autho…