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Copyright: ©Author(s) 2026. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial (CC BY-NC 4.0) license. No commercial re-use. See permissions. Published by Baishideng Publishing Group Inc.
World J Clin Cases. May 16, 2026; 14(14): 120126
Published online May 16, 2026. doi: 10.12998/wjcc.v14.i14.120126
Refractory rosuvastatin-associated necrotizing autoimmune myopathy: A case report and review of literature
Mrudula Thiriveedi, Hersh Patel, Punuru J Reddy
Mrudula Thiriveedi, Punuru J Reddy, Department of Internal Medicine, Decatur Morgan Hospital, Decatur, AL 35601, United States
Hersh Patel, Department of Medicine, Alabama College of Osteopathic Medicine, Dothan, AL 36303, United States
Author contributions: Thiriveedi M and Patel H contributed to manuscript writing, editing, and data collection; Reddy P and Thiriveedi M contributed to conceptualization and supervision; all authors have read and approved the final manuscript.
Informed consent statement: Informed written consent was obtained from the patient’s son (next of kin) for publication of this report and any accompanying images.
Conflict-of-interest statement: The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest to disclose.
CARE Checklist (2016) statement: The authors have read the CARE Checklist (2016), and the manuscript was prepared and revised according to the CARE Checklist (2016).
Corresponding author: Mrudula Thiriveedi, MD, Chief Physician, Department of Internal Medicine, Decatur Morgan Hospital, 1201 7th Street SE, Decatur, AL 35601, United States. drmrudula.giridhar@gmail.com
Received: February 24, 2026
Revised: March 10, 2026
Accepted: April 2, 2026
Published online: May 16, 2026
Processing time: 67 Days and 10.5 Hours
Core Tip

Core Tip: Statin-associated necrotizing autoimmune myopathy (NAM) is a rare immune-mediated myopathy defined by progressive weakness, marked creatine kinase elevation, and persistence of disease activity despite statin withdrawal, most often associated with anti-3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl–coenzyme A reductase antibodies. Many patients respond to corticosteroids and intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG), but refractory disease can occur, particularly when diagnosis is delayed or when severe systemic complications develop. We report an elderly woman receiving long-term rosuvastatin who developed persistent rhabdomyolysis with dialysis-dependent renal failure and died despite high-dose corticosteroids, IVIG, and rituximab. This case underscores the need for early antibody testing and prompt escalation of therapy when statin-associated NAM is suspected, to prevent severe outcomes.