Peer Reviewed
Case studies

A patient on statin therapy experiencing myalgia but having two diagnoses

Leon A Simons
Abstract
Occasionally, a patient may manifest both hypothyroidism and primary hypercholesterolaemia and will need separate therapies for each condition.
Key Points
  • All patients newly diagnosed with apparent primary hypercholesterolaemia should have their thyroid-stimulating hormone level measured to exclude any contribution from subclinical hypothyroidism.
  • Myalgia is more likely to arise with the use of statin therapy in the presence of unrecognised hypothyroidism.
  • Replacement thyroxine therapy will generally resolve a cholesterol problem due solely to hypothyroidism.
  • Occasionally, a patient may manifest both hypothyroidism and primary hypercholesterolaemia and will need separate therapies for each condition.
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