Statins and Myasthenia Gravis: Is There a Connection?

Clinical Takeaway

: Among statin users who were diagnosed with myasthenia gravis, the risk was highest shortly after starting the medication.

Context

Case reports have suggested a link between statin use and myasthenia gravis (MG), but the low incidence of MG makes this possible connection challenging to assess. In this study, investigators used health databases from Hong Kong, Japan, and the U.K. to identify some 2000 individuals with MG who took statins. The authors used a self-controlled study design to compare incidence rates of MG before and for up to 2 years after statin initiation.

Key Results

The incidence of MG in the 6 months after statin initiation was nearly three times the incidence in the preexposure period.
In the 6- to 12-month window, the risk of MG with statins was substantially lower but still statistically significant. At 1 year or later after statin initiation, t…

Reviewing Author

Sarah E. Post, M.D.

Disclosures

Nothing to disclose