Statin Intolerance, Anti-HMGCR Antibodies, and Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor-Associated Myositis: A "Two-Hit" Autoimmune Toxicity or Clinical Predisposition?

Oncologist. 2020 Aug;25(8):e1242-e1245. doi: 10.1634/theoncologist.2019-0911. Epub 2020 Jun 3.

Abstract

Immune-related adverse events induced by immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) therapy may affect diverse organ systems, including skeletal and cardiac muscle. ICI-associated myositis may result in substantial morbidity and occasional mortality. We present a case of a patient with advanced non-small cell lung cancer who developed grade 4 myositis with concurrent myocarditis early after initiation of anti-programmed death ligand 1 therapy (durvalumab). Autoantibody analysis revealed marked increases in anti-3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A reductase antibody levels that preceded clinical toxicity, and further increased during toxicity. Notably, the patient had a history of intolerable statin myopathy, which had resolved clinically after statin discontinuation and prior to ICI initiation. This case demonstrates a potential association between statin exposure, autoantibodies, and ICI-associated myositis.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung*
  • Humans
  • Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors* / adverse effects
  • Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors
  • Lung Neoplasms*
  • Myositis* / chemically induced
  • Myositis* / drug therapy

Substances

  • Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors
  • Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors