A Case of Statin-Induced Interstitial Pneumonitis due to Rosuvastatin

Statins lower the hyperlipidemia and reduce the incidence of cardiovascular events and related mortality. A 60-year-old man who was diagnosed with a transient ischemic attack was started on acetyl-L-carnitine, cilostazol, and rosuvastatin. After rosuvastatin treatment for 4 weeks, the patient presented with sudden onset fever, cough, and dyspnea. His symptoms were aggravated despite empirical antibiotic treatment. All infectious pathogens were excluded based on results of culture and polymerase chain reaction of the bronchoscopic wash specimens. Chest radiography showed diffuse ground-glass opacities in both lungs, along with several subpleural ground-glass opacity nodules; and a foamy alveolar macrophage appearance was confirmed on bronchoalveolar lavage. We suspected rosuvastatin-induced lung injury, discontinued rosuvastatin and initiated prednisolone 1 mg/kg tapered over 2weeks. After initiating steroid therapy, his symptoms and radiologic findings significantly improved. We suggest that clinicians should be aware of the potential for rosuvastatin-induced lung injury.

keywords: Rosuvastatin, Lung Diseases, Interstitial, Chemically-Induced Disorders

Reference

1. Rosenson RS., Tangney CC. (1998), Antiatherothrombotic properties of statins: implications for cardiovascular event reduction. JAMA, 279,1643-50.

2. Bellosta S., Paoletti R., Corsini A. (2004), Safety of statins: focus on clinical pharmacokinetics and drug interactions. Circulation, 109(23 Suppl 1),III50-7.

3. Alsheikh-Ali AA., Ambrose MS., Kuvin JT., Karas RH. (2005), The safety of rosuvastatin as used in common clinical practice: a postmarketing analysis. Circulation, 111,3051-7.

4. Hill C., Zeitz C., Kirkham B. (1995), Dermatomyositis with lung involvement in a patient treated with simvastatin. Aust N Z J Med, 25,745-6.

5. Liebhaber MI., Wright RS., Gelberg HJ., Dyer Z., Kupperman JL. (1999), Polymyalgia, hypersensitivity pneumonitis and other reactions in patients receiving HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors: a report of ten cases. Chest, 115,886-9.

6. Veyrac G., Cellerin L., Jolliet P. (2006), A case of interstitial lung disease with atorvastatin (Tahor) and a review of the literature about these effects observed under statins. Therapie, 61,57-67.

7. Fernandez AB., Karas RH., Alsheikh-Ali AA., Thompson PD. (2008), Statins and interstitial lung disease: a systematic review of the literature and of food and drug administration adverse event reports. Chest, 134,824-30.

8. Huang LK., Tsai MJ., Tsai HC., Chao HS., Lin FC., Chang SC. (2013), Statin-induced lung injury: diagnostic clue and outcome. Postgrad Med J, 89,14-9.

9. Matsuno O. (2012), Drug-induced interstitial lung disease: mechanisms and best diagnostic approaches. Respir Res, 13,39.

바로가기메뉴

Article Contents

Vol.78 No.3

A Case of Statin-Induced Interstitial Pneumonitis due to Rosuvastatin

Abstract

Reference

Tuberculosis & Respiratory Diseases