Atorvastatin as a Rare Primary Cause of Drug-Induced Angioedema: A Case Report

Abstract

In patients with hyperlipidemia and cardiovascular disease, statin remains the primary medication for risk reduction. Statins are primarily associated with adverse outcomes like myoglobinuria and deranged liver function tests (LFTs). Angioedema is a life-threatening reaction characterized by mucosal and submucosal swelling. It is rarely known for its association with statins. However, we present a rare case of a 59-year-old man presenting with recurrent angioedema of the face and tongue after starting on 40mg of atorvastatin, within one week of the treatment. He had no previous history of hypersensitivity and rash. He denied any food or medication allergy in the past. The Naranjo scale probability and the abrupt nature of these episodes upon starting statin and completely resolving after discontinuing the drug made statin-induced angioedema the primary diagnosis in this case.

Keywords: angioedema; atorvastatin induced angioedema; cardiovascular; cardiovascular prevention; drug-induced angioedema; naranjo scale; rare adverse effect; statin.