Physiogenomic association of statin-related myalgia to serotonin receptors

Muscle Nerve. 2007 Sep;36(3):329-35. doi: 10.1002/mus.20871.

Abstract

We employed physiogenomic analyses to investigate the relationship between myalgia and selected polymorphisms in serotonergic genes, based on their involvement with pain perception and transduction of nociceptive stimuli. We screened 195 hypercholesterolemic, statin-treated patients, all of whom received either atorvastatin, simvastatin, or pravastatin. Patients were classified as having no myalgia, probable myalgia, or definite myalgia, and assigned a myalgia score of 0, 0.5, or 1, respectively. Fourteen single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were selected from candidates within the 5-HT receptor gene families [5a-hydroxytryptamine receptor genes (HTR) 1D, 2A, 2C, 3A, 3B, 5A, 6, 7] and the serotonin transporter gene (SLC6A4). SNPs in the HTR3B and HTR7 genes, rs2276307 and rs1935349, respectively, were significantly associated with the myalgia score. Individual differences in pain perception and nociception related to specific serotonergic gene variants may affect the development of myalgia in statin-treated patients.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Atorvastatin
  • Female
  • Genomics
  • Heptanoic Acids / adverse effects
  • Heptanoic Acids / therapeutic use
  • Humans
  • Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors / adverse effects*
  • Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors / therapeutic use
  • Hypercholesterolemia / drug therapy
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Muscular Diseases / chemically induced*
  • Muscular Diseases / genetics
  • Pain / chemically induced
  • Pain / genetics
  • Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide
  • Pravastatin / adverse effects
  • Pravastatin / therapeutic use
  • Pyrroles / adverse effects
  • Pyrroles / therapeutic use
  • Receptors, Serotonin / genetics*
  • Simvastatin / adverse effects
  • Simvastatin / therapeutic use

Substances

  • Heptanoic Acids
  • Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors
  • Pyrroles
  • Receptors, Serotonin
  • Atorvastatin
  • Simvastatin
  • Pravastatin