Drug-induced myopathies

While the factors that influence the emergence of polymyositis are complex, and often unknown, there have been cases where the use of a particular drug has triggered its occurrence. It is worth noting that polymyositis does not always occur in response to use of these drugs, but rather occurs rarely, leading to the conclusion there are other unidentified factors of influence. Nonetheless the identification of influence by these substances may lead to a greater understanding of the origins of the disease.

Statins
Statins are a family of drugs that have been known to mediate cases of polymyositis. The exact method of causuality is undetermined.

Statins as a cause of inflammatory myopathy. (Padala, Thompson. Nov. 2011) [1]

A reaction to statins has been linked to 3 cases of polymyositis. (Takagi, Shiio. 2004) [2]

http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0953620512000271 uptade on statins causing myopathy.

Toxic myopathies discussed here http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11910-011-0232-9

Anti-TNFa agents
Another family of drugs which has triggered inflammatory myopathies is drugs targeting Tumor Necrosis Factor Alpha. The relevance of this family as intereactive is recognized, and anti-TNFa agents have also been tested as possible cures for polymyositis, though with limited success.

Anti-TNF-a agents have been shown to trigger the emergence of PM, DM and ILD in some patients. (Brunasso, Aberer 2014). [3]

 

 

Footnotes:

1. Santosh Padala, Paul D.. Statins as a possible cause of inflammatory and necrotizing myopathies.. Atherosclerosis, 222(1):15-21, 2012 as found at VIEW

2. Takagi A, Shilo Y. Pravastatin-associated polymyositis, a case report. Cancer Letters, Volume 268, Issue 1 , Pages 10-30, 2008 as found at VIEW

3. Brunasso A, Aberer w,Massone C. New Onset of Dermatomyositis/Polymyositis during Anti-TNF-a therapies. The Scientific World Journal, Volume 2014, Article ID 179180, 9 pages, 2014 as found at VIEW