Question

If statin is giving someone muscle pain, what should be checked in the serum?

1) Creatinine kinase levels
2) Liver function tests
3) Complete blood count
4) Thyroid function tests

Answer 1

When experiencing muscle pain due to statin use, serum creatinine kinase (CK) levels should be checked to assess for possible muscle damage.

Step-by-step explanation:

If a patient is experiencing muscle pain while taking statins, it is important to check serum creatinine kinase (CK or CPK) levels. Creatinine kinase is an enzyme found in the heart, brain, skeletal muscle, and other tissues. Increased levels in the blood can indicate muscle damage, including from the side effects of statin use.

Since statins are known to occasionally cause myopathy (muscle damage) which can lead to rhabdomyolysis in severe cases, monitoring CK levels can be crucial for safety. Liver function tests (LFTs) may also be relevant because statins are metabolized by the liver, and these tests can indicate if the liver is being affected. However, the first test specifically for muscle pain would be the CK level.