Acta Clin Belg. 2019 Jul 10:1-2. doi: 10.1080/17843286.2019.1640929. [Epub ahead of print]
Simvastatin-induced erythromelalgia: less is more.
Vanwonterghem Y1, Shadid S1.
Author information
1 a University Hospital Ghent , Department of Endocrinology , Belgium.
Abstract
We describe a case of a woman with uncomplicated Type 2 diabetes mellitus, presenting with severe burning pains and intense redness of the legs, for which only cooling could provide relief. Although the description was classic of erythromelalgia, the lack of familiarity of the disorder caused considerable doctor's delay as well as the erroneous advice to start pain killers and amitriptyline. However, empirical discontinuation of simvastatin made all symptoms disappear. Erthyromelalgia is a rare but debilitating disease which is diagnosed by exclusion only. It usually occurs as a secondary feature to (hematologic) malignant disorders, autoimmune diseases or, infections or, most notoriously, to pharmacological agents. One of the latter might be simvastatin, and possibly all HMG CoA Reductase inhibitors.
KEYWORDS:
Erthyromelalgia; HMG CoA Reductase inhibitors; adverse drug reaction; side effects; simvastatin; statins
PMID: 31291834
DOI: 10.1080/17843286.2019.1640929
