Session Information
Session Type: Poster Session (Sunday)
Session Time: 9:00AM-11:00AM
Background/Purpose: Anti-HMGCR myopathy has recently been defined as a subset of immune-mediated necrotizing myopathies characterized by proximal muscle weakness, elevated CK levels and the presence of anti-HMGCR autoantibodies (aAbs). Statin-induced anti-HMGCR myopathy with elevated serum CK but normal muscle strength has scarcely been reported. Our objective was to describe the natural history of this subset.
Methods: All our patients with elevated serum CK, anti-HMGCR aAbs and statin exposure were studied retrospectively for demographics, myologic features, chronology of events leading to induction as well as maintenance therapy. Early treatment was defined as treatment when muscle strength was still normal, whereas delayed treatment was defined as treatment when proximal weakness was apparent. Remission was defined by serum CK ≤ 500 UI/L, and successful steroid sparing immunosuppressant (SSI) maintenance as remission for 1 year with ≤ 5 mg/day of prednisone. Anti-HMGCR aAbs were detected by ALBIA or ELISA.
Results: Fifty-five patients with statin-induced anti-HMGCR myopathy were identified. Twenty-two patients (40%) presented with normal muscle strength, with median CK of 1501 IU/L (range 500-5613) and median age of 64.7 years. Of these 22 patients, 9 (41%) had early treatment and 13 (59%) had delayed treatment. All patients were treated with at least one SSI, with or without steroids and/or intravenous immunoglobulins (IVIg). All patients achieved remission.
- Early treatment group (n=9): median time from presentation (defined as first CK elevation) to treatment was 13.4 months (range 2.6-78.4). Median CK at presentation and at treatment initiation were 1501 IU/L (range 617-2132) and 2684 IU/L (554-13339), respectively. Successful steroid-free induction was used in 5 patients (56%), and IVIg induction in 2 patients (22%). Successful SSI monotherapy maintenance was possible in 5 patients (56%), with only one patient still on IVIg and steroids. At last follow-up, all patients had normal strength.
- Delayed treatment group (n=13): median time from presentation to treatment was 21.6 months (range 7-95). Median CK at presentation and at treatment initiation were 1700 IU/L (range 500-5613) and 6400 IU/L (1556-14098), respectively. Successful steroid-free induction was used in 1 patient (8%), and IVIg induction in 8 patients (62%). Successful SSI monotherapy maintenance was possible in 4 patients (31%) while 6 patients were on maintenance IVIg and 3 (23%) on steroids. At last follow-up, normal strength was present in 9 patients (69%).
- Thus, steroid-free induction was proposed by the treating physicians and used successfully in 56% of patients in the early treatment group versus only 8% of patients in the delayed treatment group (p=0.023).
Conclusion: In this cohort of statin-induced anti-HMGCR myopathy, 22 patients (40%) presented with normal strength. While successful in all patients, steroid-free induction was proposed in 5 patients (56%) with normal strength, but only once (8%) in patients in whom proximal weakness had ensued (p=0.023). Anti-HMGCR myopathy presenting with normal strength may be an ideal subset for initiating steroid-free induction.
To cite this abstract in AMA style:
Meyer A, Troyanov Y, Drouin J, Bourre-Tessier J, Oligny-Longpre G, Landon-Cardinal O, Hervier B, Hoa S, Mansour A, Rich E, Goulet J, Chartrand S, Hudson M, Nehme J, Makhzoum J, Zarka F, Hussein S, Morin V, Villeneuve E, Raynauld J, Landry M, O'Ferrall E, Ferreira J, Ellezam B, Karamchandani J, Larue S, Massie R, Isabelle C, Deschênes i, Leclair V, Couture H, Targoff I, Fritzler M, Senecal J. Treating Statin-induced Anti-HMGCR Myopathy with Normal Muscle Strength: A New Window of Opportunity [abstract]. Arthritis Rheumatol. 2019; 71 (suppl 10). https://acrabstracts.org/abstract/treating-statin-induced-anti-hmgcr-myopathy-with-normal-muscle-strength-a-new-window-of-opportunity/. Accessed .« Back to 2019 ACR/ARP Annual Meeting
ACR Meeting Abstracts - https://acrabstracts.org/abstract/treating-statin-induced-anti-hmgcr-myopathy-with-normal-muscle-strength-a-new-window-of-opportunity/