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Evaluation of skeletal muscle during calf exercise by 31‐phosphorus magnetic resonance spectroscopy in patients on statin medications
Author(s) -
Wu Jim S.,
Buettner Catherine,
Smithline Howard,
Ngo Long H.,
Greenman Robert L.
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
muscle and nerve
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.025
H-Index - 145
eISSN - 1097-4598
pISSN - 0148-639X
DOI - 10.1002/mus.21847
Subject(s) - phosphocreatine , statin , creatine kinase , medicine , creatine , myopathy , magnetic resonance imaging , skeletal muscle , endocrinology , physical therapy , cardiology , energy metabolism , radiology
Muscle pain is a common side effect of statin medications, but the cause is poorly understood. We characterized phosphocreatine (PCr) exercise recovery kinetics in 10 patients with hypercholesterolemia before and after a 4‐week regimen of statin therapy using 31‐phosphorus magnetic resonance spectroscopy ( 31 P‐MRS). 31 P spectra were obtained before, during, and after exercise on a calf flexion pedal ergometer. Creatine kinase (CK) serum levels were drawn before and after statin therapy. The mean metabolic recovery time constant in subjects increased from 28.1 s (SE = 6.5 s) to 55.4 s (SE = 7.4 s) after statin therapy. The unweighted mean of the pre/post‐recovery time difference was −27.3 s (SE = 12.4 s; P = 0.02). Pre‐ and post‐therapy CK levels were not significantly different ( P = 0.50). Metabolic recovery time in the calf is prolonged in patients after statin use. This suggests that statins impair mitochondrial oxidative function, and 31 P MRS is a potential study model for statin‐associated myopathy. Muscle Nerve, 2011