Statins and Peripheral Neuropathy

The myopathy associated with statin drugs has been publicized widely; less well-known are several case reports suggesting that statins may cause peripheral neuropathy. In this case-control study, researchers used population-based patient registries in a Danish county to determine whether there is a link between statins and neuropathy.

After excluding patients with conditions typically associated with neuropathy (e.g., diabetes, alcohol abuse, renal failure), the researchers identified 166 cases of idiopathic peripheral neuropathy (first diagnosed from 1994 through 1998); 35 were considered to be definite idiopathic cases, verified by individual record review and nerve-conduction testing. Twenty-five age- and sex-matched controls were selecte…