Differential Diagnosis

The patient started rosuvastatin 10mg 3 months ago, and we are considering potential causes related to this medication. Here's a differential diagnosis organized into categories:

• Single Most Likely Diagnosis
  • Muscle Pain or Myalgia: Rosuvastatin, a statin, is known to cause muscle pain or myalgia as a common side effect. This is likely due to the medication's effect on muscle cells.
• Other Likely Diagnoses
  • Liver Enzyme Elevation: Statins, including rosuvastatin, can cause elevations in liver enzymes, indicating potential liver injury. Although not directly related to the patient's symptom, it's a known side effect of the medication.
  • Diabetes Mellitus: Statins have been associated with an increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes mellitus. This could be a consideration, especially if the patient has other risk factors for diabetes.
• Do Not Miss Diagnoses
  • Rhabdomyolysis: Although rare, rhabdomyolysis is a life-threatening condition that can be caused by statins. It involves the breakdown of muscle tissue and can lead to kidney failure. Early recognition is crucial.
  • Hepatic Failure: While rare, statins can cause severe liver injury leading to hepatic failure. Monitoring liver enzymes and recognizing signs of liver dysfunction are essential.
• Rare Diagnoses
  • Polymyositis: A rare inflammatory muscle disease that could potentially be triggered or worsened by statin use.
  • Autoimmune Myopathy: Some cases of autoimmune myopathy have been reported in association with statin use, although this is extremely rare.

Each of these diagnoses should be considered in the context of the patient's overall clinical presentation, medical history, and laboratory findings.