Drug-Induced Liver Injury from Statins

The hydroxymethyglutaryl-coenzyme A reductase inhibitors (statins) are a commonly prescribed class of medication for the treatment of hyperlipidemia and coronary artery disease . This class of medication has several proven benefits, including reduction of mortality related to coronary artery disease. A major consideration when prescribing these drugs are the potential for adverse effects, mainly myalgias , myopathy , and hepatotoxicity . In this article, we summarize current data on statin-associated hepatotoxicity and highlight that the risk of clinically significant idiosyncratic drug-induced liver injury is actually quite small. We also review preclinical data suggesting potential hepatoprotective effects of statin therapy.