Multiple tendon ruptures associated with statin therapy
Shreyas D. Gowdar J Clin Lipido VOLUME 14, ISSUE 2, P189-191, MARCH 01, 2020
Highlights
• Heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia with multiple tendon ruptures on statins.
• No reoccurrence of tendon rupture or tendonitis after withdrawal of statins.
• Statin effects on tendon extracellular matrix and reduced matrix metalloproteinases.
We present the case of a 44-year-old physician with familial heterozygous hypercholesterolemia who experienced multiple tendon ruptures during 19 years of statin therapy and no tendon injuries in the 5 years since statins were discontinued. Statins may deleteriously affect tendon extracellular matrix by inhibiting synthesis of matrix metalloproteinases and cell cycle regulatory proteins. Clinicians should be aware of this possible association between statins and tendinopathy.