Hélio A G Teive1, Adriana Moro2, Mariana Moscovich2, Walter O Arruda2, Renato Puppi Munhoz3. 1. Movement Disorders Unit, Neurology Service, Internal Medicine Department, Hospital de Clínicas, Federal University of Paraná, Curitiba, PR, Brazil. Electronic address: hagteive@mps.com.br. 2. Movement Disorders Unit, Neurology Service, Internal Medicine Department, Hospital de Clínicas, Federal University of Paraná, Curitiba, PR, Brazil. 3. Department of Medicine, Morton and Gloria Shulman Movement Disorders Centre, Toronto Western Hospital, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Drug-induced cerebellar ataxias (DICA) represent an important group of secondary cerebellar ataxias. Herein, we reported a case series of progressive cerebellar ataxia induced by HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors (statins). METHODS: Observational study with a Brazilian case series of patients with cerebellar ataxia due to statins use. RESULTS: We described four patients with cerebellar ataxia, predominantly gait ataxia, due to statins use. Mean age was 67.5 years old, predominantly male, with several comorbidities, such as dyslipidemia, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and myocardial revascularization. After statin withdrawal, and treatment with coenzyme Q10 in some patients, progressive improvement of gait ataxia was observed. DISCUSSION: We presented a case series of four patients with cerebellar ataxia due to statins use, which represents a new rare side-effect of statins, probably related to coenzyme Q10 deficiency.
BACKGROUND: Drug-induced cerebellar ataxias (DICA) represent an important group of secondary cerebellar ataxias. Herein, we reported a case series of progressive cerebellar ataxia induced by HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors (statins). METHODS: Observational study with a Brazilian case series of patients with cerebellar ataxia due to statins use. RESULTS: We described four patients with cerebellar ataxia, predominantly gait ataxia, due to statins use. Mean age was 67.5 years old, predominantly male, with several comorbidities, such as dyslipidemia, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and myocardial revascularization. After statin withdrawal, and treatment with coenzyme Q10 in some patients, progressive improvement of gait ataxia was observed. DISCUSSION: We presented a case series of four patients with cerebellar ataxia due to statins use, which represents a new rare side-effect of statins, probably related to coenzyme Q10 deficiency.