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Molecular basis for statin-induced muscle toxicity: implications and possibilities
Catherine Buettner1, Stewart H Lecker
1General Medicine and Primary Care, Atrium Suite 1, Shapiro 1, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Harvard Medical School, 330 Brookline Avenue Boston, MA 02215, USA. cbuettne@bidmc.harvard.edu
Abstract:
Statins are widely used to treat hypercholesterolemia, a known risk factor for atherosclerosis. These drugs can lead to a number of side effects in muscle, including rhabdomyolysis; however, the mechanism of muscle injury is poorly defined. We review the clinical characteristics of this diverse syndrome, as well as the biochemical mechanisms that might provide an explanation for the toxicity of these agents. New findings implicating atrogin-1, a gene required for muscle atrophy, in the pathophysiology of statin-induced muscle injury are discussed, as well as implications of these novel discoveries.
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