Burning Mouth Syndrome From Statin Use: A Case Study

Area of Science:

• Neurology
• Pharmacology

Background:

• Statins are widely prescribed cholesterol-lowering drugs.
• While generally safe, statins can cause various side effects.
• Neuropathy is a known, though uncommon, adverse effect of statin use.

Observation:

• A 35-year-old male with hyperlipoproteinemia developed tongue and mouth burning after seven days of atorvastatin.
• The patient experienced dysesthesias exclusively in the tongue.
• Neurological examination revealed normal findings apart from the oral dysesthesias.

Findings:

• Discontinuation of atorvastatin led to the resolution of burning mouth symptoms within three weeks.
• This case presents a rare instance of statin-induced small fiber neuropathy primarily affecting the tongue.
• Burning mouth syndrome is characterized by painful oral dysesthesias, often linked to small fiber neuropathy.

Implications:

• This case underscores the importance of considering statin-induced neuropathy in patients presenting with burning mouth syndrome.
• Further research may be needed to understand the specific mechanisms of statin-induced oral neuropathy.
• Clinicians should be aware of this rare adverse effect when prescribing statins, particularly atorvastatin.