Low-dose Simvastatin Increases Skeletal Muscle Sensitivity to Caffeine and Halothane

Conclusions The myotoxic side effect of simvastatin was found to change the sensitivity of myotubes in response to high-dose caffeine and halothane. When dose was low, sensitivity increased mainly because of increased Ca2+ content in the sarcoplasmic reticulum, which might explain why some individuals with statin-induced myotoxic symptoms may show positive caffeine-halothane contracture test results. However, when the dose was high and the damage to the myotubes was severer, sensitivity was lower. It is here supposed that the damage itself might put individuals with statin-induced myotoxic symptoms at greater risks of presenting with rhabdomyolysis during surgery or while under anesthesia.
Source: Chinese Medical Sciences Journal - Category: Journals (General) Source Type: research