Abstract Title:

Treatment with statins and involvement of the peripheral nervous system: results of a prospective clinical and neurophysiological follow-up.

Abstract Source:

Biomed Pap Med Fac Univ Palacky Olomouc Czech Repub. 2007 Dec ;151(2):307-10. PMID: 18345269

Abstract Author(s):

Pavel Otruba, Petr Kanovsky, Petr Hlustik

Article Affiliation:

Department of Neurology, Palacky Teaching and University Hospital Olomouc, Czech Republic. [email protected]

Abstract:

AIMS: To study the pathological changes in neurophysiological examination of lower-limb peripheral nerves in patients with long-term statin treatment.

METHODS: Forty-two patients (23 males, 19 females, mean age 51.9 and 52.3 years) with a definitive diagnosis of combined hyperlipidemia were studied. Other metabolic disorders or chronic ethanol abuse were excluded. Initial examinations included laboratory and neurophysiological measures (peroneal and tibial nerves: MNCV, CMAP, F-wave mean latency; superficial peroneal and sural nerve: SNCV, SNAP). Subsequently, treatment with simvastatin 20mg daily was initiated. Patients were followed for 24 months with examinations at 1, 6, 12 and 24 months after statin treatment initiation.

RESULTS: None of the patients reported subjective symptoms typical for polyneuropathy. In laboratory findings, there was no elevation of muscle enzymes. Nevertheless, electrophysiological examination of lower-limb peripheral nerves demonstrated statistically significant prolongation of F-wave mean latency on peroneal and tibial nerves (p<0.0001, paired t-test). A control group of 50 patients with combined hyperlipidemia but no statin treatment showed no changes over the same time interval. The study demonstrated that long-term

CONCLUSIONS: The study demonstrated that long-term treatment with statins might cause a clinically silent but still electrophysiologically definite damage to peripheral nerves.

Study Type : Human Study

Print Options


Key Research Topics

This website is for information purposes only. By providing the information contained herein we are not diagnosing, treating, curing, mitigating, or preventing any type of disease or medical condition. Before beginning any type of natural, integrative or conventional treatment regimen, it is advisable to seek the advice of a licensed healthcare professional.

© Copyright 2008-2024 GreenMedInfo.com, Journal Articles copyright of original owners, MeSH copyright NLM.