MRI in lipid-lowering agent-associated myopathy: a retrospective review of 21 cases

The objective of our study was to identify disease-specific patterns of myopathic changes in patients with lipid-lowering agent (LLA)-associated myopathy using a dedicated MRI protocol.

Axial T1- and T2-weighted STIR images were obtained for the detection of lipomatosis and edema, respectively, of the thighs and legs. Information about patient age, sex, duration of dyslipidemia and of medication use, latency of symptom onset, maximum creatine kinase (CK) level, presence of myalgia and muscle weakness, and LLA or LLAs used was collected.

Significant correlations resulted for the radiologic diagnosis of LLA-associated myopathy and maximum CK level; the presence of edema and maximum CK level; edema and weakness in the ventral thigh muscle group, thigh adductors, or deep dorsal muscle group of the legs; and lipomatosis and weakness of the deep dorsal muscle group of the legs and peroneal muscle group, respectively.

MRI is a method that helps detect active pathologic processes in patients with suspected LLA-associated myopathy but does not reveal disease-specific patterns.