HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Submit a response Alert me when this article is cited Alert me when eLetters are posted Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Merz, T. Articles by Fuller, S. H. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Merz, T. Articles by Fuller, S. H.

TONJA MERZ, PHARM.D., is Assistant Professor of Pharmacy Practice, Wingate University School of Pharmacy, Charlotte, NC. STEPHEN H. FULLER, PHARM.D., BCPS, CPP, is Associate Professor of Pharmacy Practice, Campbell University School of Pharmacy, Cary, NC.

Address correspondence to Dr. Merz at Wingate University School of Pharmacy, 316 North Main Street, Wingate, NC 28174 (tmerz{at}wingate.edu).

Purpose. The case of a patient whose serum transaminase levels became elevated after concomitant use of rosuvastatin and amiodarone is described. Summary. A 73-year-old white woman with a medical history of diabetes mellitus, hypertension, hypothyroidism, hyperlipidemia, and aortic stenosis reported to a clinic on February 9, 2006. Laboratory tests revealed the following values: total cholesterol, 172 mg/dL; low-density-lipoprotein cholesterol, 96 mg/dL; high-density-lipoprotein cholesterol, 55 mg/dL; triglycerides, 105 mg/dL; aspartate transaminase (AST), 14 IU/L; alanine transaminase (ALT), 13 IU/L; alkaline phosphatase (ALP), 68 IU/L; and serum creatinine (SCr), 1.1 mg/dL. At this time, rosuvastatin 5 mg daily was initiated. On April 20, 2006, laboratory tests revealed an AST of 30 IU/L, ALT of 58 IU/L, ALP of 99 IU/L, and SCr of 1.0 mg/dL. Because of the severity of her aortic stenosis, the patient underwent aortic valve replacement on May 15, 2006, and amiodarone was initiated. Laboratory tests completed on May 31, 2006, revealed an AST of 192 IU/L, ALT of 336 IU/L, ALP of 322 IU/L, and SCr of 1.1 mg/dL. She did not report any symptoms of myopathy or liver dysfunction. Ultrasound revealed no liver abnormalities. The rosuvastatin was discontinued because of a potential interaction with the amiodarone. One week after the rosuvastatin was stopped, her laboratory tests showed an AST of 68 IU/L, an ALT of 126 IU/L, an ALP of 292 IU/L, a creatine kinase concentration of 22 IU/L, and an SCr of 1.0 mg/dL. Two months later, her liver function test values had continued to decline. Conclusion. A potential interaction between rosuvastatin and amiodarone resulted in asymptomatic elevation of serum transaminase levels in a 73-year-old woman. Index terms: Amiodarone; Antilipemic agents; Cardiac drugs; Drug interactions; Drugs, adverse reactions; Geriatrics; Rosuvastatin