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In patients who take statins, elevated serum creatine kinase (CK) levels often are used as markers of myopathy; however, case reports suggest that muscle symptoms can develop in statin recipients who have normal CK levels. Researchers now report on 4 patients (from a randomized crossover trial) in whom muscle symptoms developed during statin therapy and then resolved during placebo use.
At baseline, the patients had exhibited muscle discomfort and weakness while taking statins (for 2 weeks to 4 years), but their CK levels were normal. In all cases, symptoms improved when the patients stopped taking statins and recurred when they resumed statin use. Muscle biopsy specimens from all 4 patients showed lipid droplets and cytochrome-oxidase-negat…