Rhabdomyolysis in an HIV-Infected Patient on Anti-Retroviral Therapy Precipitated by High-Dose Pravastatin

Title: Rhabdomyolysis in an HIV-Infected Patient on Anti-Retroviral Therapy Precipitated by High-Dose Pravastatin

Volume: 4 Issue: 2

Author(s): Nasser Mikhail, Elizabeth Iskander and Dennis Cope

Affiliation:

Abstract: Protease inhibitors (PIs) inhibit the cytochrome P450 CYP3A4 [1]. Because the metabolism of pravastatin is independent of the cytochrome P450 CYP3A4, this drug has become the preferred statin for treatment of dyslipidemia associated with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection, with no cases of serious toxicity such as rhabdomyolysis reported to date. We report an HIV-infected patient receiving antiretroviral regimen consisting of atazanavir, ritonavir, emtricitabine and tenofovir who developed severe rhabdomyolysis approximately 4 months after increasing his pravastatin dose from 40 to 80 mg daily. His symptoms resolved within 10 days after the discontinuation of pravastatin and antiretroviral therapy. To our knowledge, this is the first case of rhabdomyolysis possibly caused by pravastatin in an HIV-infected patient.

Cite this article as:

Mikhail Nasser, Iskander Elizabeth and Cope Dennis, Rhabdomyolysis in an HIV-Infected Patient on Anti-Retroviral Therapy Precipitated by High-Dose Pravastatin, Current Drug Safety 2009; 4 (2) . https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/157488609788173080