[Bezafibrate-induced myolysis and myoglobinuria in patients with impaired renal function]

A muscular syndrome has been described in patients on clofibrate and fenofibrate therapy. The present paper describes four patients with impaired renal function in whom symptoms and signs of skeletal muscle damage developed during treatment with another clofibrinic acid derivative, bezafibrate. The syndrome was characterized by variable degrees of muscular cramps and paresis, excessive elevation of muscle enzymes in serum, myoglobinemia and myoglobinuria. Transient deterioration of renal function was also common. All patients had been overdosed with bezafibrate with regard to their renal function. It is concluded that bezafibrate like other lipid lowering agents of the clofibrate type may induce muscle damage, at least if doses are not adjusted to renal function. Extreme caution is warranted when treating patients with renal impairment with bezafibrate and strict dose adjustment to kidney function is necessary to avoid muscle damage.