Myositis, microvesicular hepatitis, and progression to cirrhosis from troglitazone added to simvastatin

Dig Dis Sci. 2001 Feb;46(2):376-8. doi: 10.1023/a:1005505827545.

Abstract

A 68-year-old woman, with type 2 diabetes mellitus, hypercholesterolemia, and prior long-term simvastatin therapy, self-resumed troglitazone after running out of metformin. She developed an acute severe hepatitis with microvesicular steatosis and mysositis. There was subsequent resolution of the myositis but progression of the hepatitis to symptomatic cirrhosis over a period of 12 weeks. Both troglitazone and simvastatin are metabolized by cytochrome P-450 3A4. Troglitazone typically induces metabolism of drugs metabolized by this cytochrome so that simple simvastatin toxicity seems less likely to have been involved. The association with myositis, the severity of the hepatitis with progression to cirrhosis, and the presence of microvesicular steatosis suggests altered mitochondrial metabolism, which has been described with each agent, as the underlying pathogenic mechanism. Although troglitazone (Rezulin) has been withdrawn from the market, other similar agents are available for therapy of type 2 diabetes mellitus. Increased awareness of a potential interaction between these two classes of drugs is warranted.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Anticholesteremic Agents / adverse effects*
  • Antioxidants / therapeutic use
  • Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury / diagnosis
  • Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury / drug therapy
  • Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury / etiology*
  • Chromans / adverse effects*
  • Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / complications*
  • Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / drug therapy*
  • Disease Progression
  • Drug Therapy, Combination
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Hypercholesterolemia / complications*
  • Hypercholesterolemia / drug therapy*
  • Hypoglycemic Agents / adverse effects*
  • Liver Cirrhosis / chemically induced*
  • Liver Cirrhosis / diagnosis
  • Liver Cirrhosis / drug therapy
  • Myositis / chemically induced*
  • Myositis / diagnosis
  • Myositis / drug therapy
  • Simvastatin / adverse effects*
  • Thiazoles / adverse effects*
  • Thiazolidinediones*
  • Troglitazone

Substances

  • Anticholesteremic Agents
  • Antioxidants
  • Chromans
  • Hypoglycemic Agents
  • Thiazoles
  • Thiazolidinediones
  • Simvastatin
  • Troglitazone