Acute compartment syndrome: an unusual presentation of gemfibrozil induced myositis

To present a case of gemfibrozil-induced myositis which precipitated an acute compartment syndrome.

A 49-year-old woman with chronic renal failure was given gemfibrozil for hyperlipidaemia. She developed myositis in the sixth week of therapy. Her symptoms initially persisted despite withdrawal of gemfibrozil and she developed an acute compartment syndrome.

Emergency fasciotomy was performed. She gradually improved and complete recovery occurred eight weeks after cessation of gemfibrozil therapy.

Gemfibrozil may induce a local myositis which, in our patient, precipitated an acute compartment syndrome. One should be alert to symptoms of possible drug-induced myositis in patients receiving gemfibrozil. Extreme caution should be exercised in its use in patients with impaired renal function.