Atorvastatin associated with gamma glutamyl transpeptidase elevation in a hyperlipidemia patient: A case report and literature review.

Yan Xu, Yanqing Wu

Medicine 2020 Oct 02

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Atorvastatin is the most common drug used in therapy for cardiovascular diseases. The most common adverse side effects associated with statins are myopathy and hypertransaminasemia. Here, we report a rare case of gamma glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT) elevation induced by atorvastatin. A 47-year-old male was admitted to our hospital with dyslipidemia, he had been taking pitavastatin 2 mg/day for 2 months. The levels of total cholesterol (265.28 mg/dL) and low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL) (179.15 mg/dL) were also high. Blood lipid test showed mixed dyslipidemia. Atorvastatin 10 mg/day was given to the patient. The patient came back to our hospital for blood tests after 4 weeks. Although no symptoms were detectable, the patient's GGT level was markedly elevated (up to 6-fold over normal level) with less marked increases in alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT). The serum GGT level returned to normal within 6 weeks of cessation of atorvastatin. This is a case of GGT elevation without hyperbilirubinemia, hypertransaminasemiam, or serum creatine phosphokinase (CPK) abnormalities despite an atorvastatin regimen. This case highlights GGT elevation caused by atorvastatin, a rare but serious condition. Clinicians should be aware of these possible adverse effects and monitor liver function tests in patients on statin therapy.

Citation

Yan Xu, Yanqing Wu. Atorvastatin associated with gamma glutamyl transpeptidase elevation in a hyperlipidemia patient: A case report and literature review. Medicine. 2020 Oct 02;99(40):e22572