Impact of statin intake on malignant hyperthermia: an in vitro and in vivo swine study

Background Statin intake is associated with muscular side effects, among which the unmasking of latent myopathies and of malignant hyperthermia (MH) susceptibility have been reported. These findings, together with experimental data in small animals, prompt speculation that statin therapy may compromise the performance of skeletal muscle during diagnostic in vitro contracture tests (IVCT). In addition, statins might reduce triggering thresholds in susceptible individuals (MHS), or exacerbate MH progression. We sought to obtain empirical data to address these questions. Methods We compared the responses of 3 different muscles from untreated or simvastatin treated MHS and non-susceptible (MHN) pigs. MHS animals were also invasively monitored for signs of impending MH during sevoflurane anesthesia. Results Muscles from statin treated MHS pigs responded with enhanced in vitro contractures to halothane, while responses to caffeine were unaltered by the treatment. Neither agent elicited contractures in muscles from statin treated MHN pigs. In vivo, end- tide pCO2, hemodynamic evolution, plasma pH, potassium and lactate concentrations consistently pointed to mild acceleration of MH development in statin-treated pigs, whereas masseter spasm and rigor faded compared to untreated MHS animals. Conclusions The diagnostic sensitivity and specificity of the IVCT remains unchanged by a short-term simvastatin treatment in MHS swine. Evidence of modest enhancement in cardiovascular and metabolic signs of MH, as well as masked pathognomonic muscle rigor observed under simvastatin therapy suggest a potentially misleading influence on the clinical presentation of MH. The findings deserve further study to include other statins and therapeutic regimes.