Association between statin-associated myopathy and skeletal muscle damage

In current clinical practice, patients who present with muscle symptoms while receiving statin therapy have their creatine phosphokinase levels measured. If the level is within normal limits or is modestly elevated (current recommendations include creatine phosphokinase < 1950 U/L 6), patients are frequently advised to continue their current statin therapy. 

This is based on the assumption that a lack of increased creatine phosphokinase levels supports a lack of underlying muscle damage. 

Our findings suggest that normal or moderately elevated levels of creatine phosphokinase do not exclude statin-associated muscle injury. 

Thus, alternative treatment strategies for patients with muscle symptoms need to be evaluated.

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