Title: A Study on Correlation of Peripheral Neuropathy in Patients Receiving Atorvastatin Therapy- A Study in North Bihar
Authors: Dr Umesh Chandra Jha, Dr Rajeev Kumar, Dr Ashish Narayan
DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.18535/jmscr/v5i10.60
Abstract
The role of statins to reduce risks of vascular death, non fatal myocardial infarction and stroke, is well established. STATIN competitively inhibit enzyme HMG-CoA reductase which convert HMG-CoA to mevalonate. Atorvastatin the most popular statin is more potent and appears to have the highest LDL-CH lowering efficacy. There are several case reports of statin induced peripheral neuropathy. The aim of the study is to find a correlation of development of peripheral neuropathy in patients receiving atorvastatin.
Methods: Patients (age >30years, both gender) attending outdoor clinic and indoor patients of Medicine department darbhanga medical college were selected by simple random method taking atorvastatin for different indications, dosages and duration. The statistical significance of development of peripheral neuropathy was measured.
Results: There was development of peripheral neuropathy in about 26% individuals receiving atorvastatin therapy. Seven males and six females developed neuropathy out of total 29 and 21 respectively. Out of total 50 individuals 20 was free from any co-morbidity. Only 2 out of 20 developed peripheral neuropathy. Patient having only diabetes as co-morbidity was 10 and out of that 3 developed peripheral neuropathy. Individual having both diabetes and dyslipidemia were 11 and among them 2 developed peripheral neuropathy. And patients having diabetes, dyslipidemia and hypertension was 9 and 6 developed neuropathy.
Conclusion: A substantial proportion of patients taking atorvastatin have peripheral neuropathy (26%).It was observed that neuropathy in patients taking statins does not depend on sex. Diabetes, dyslipidemia and hypertension as a co-morbidity increases the risk of neuropathy in atorvastatin users. Statin induced neuropathy or neuropathy where statin is the only implicating factor is less common than diabetic or other neuropathies.
