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Statins provoking MELAS syndrome. A case report
Joseph E Thomas1, Nora Lee, Paul D Thompson
1Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Connecticut, Farmington, Conn., USA. drjethomas@yahoo.com
Background:
Statins inhibit the production of 2,3-dimethoxy,5-methyl,6-polyisoprene parabenzoquinone also known as ubiquinone or coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10), which is required for mitochondrial electron transport. Idiopathic or primary CoQ10 deficiencies have been known to cause mitochondrial encephalomyopathy.
Methods:
We present the case of a patient with mitochondrial syndrome, consisting of mitochondrial encephalomyopathy, lactic acidosis and stroke-like episodes (MELAS), whose symptoms were temporally related to statin therapy.
Conclusion:
Statins may provoke symptoms related to MELAS in susceptible individuals.
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