Statins (like simvastatin pravastatin, rosuvastatin) are the most widely prescribed lipid-lowering therapies for the treatment and prevention of cardiovascular disease. Statins are generally safe and well tolerated in most individuals; however, they are associated with muscle toxicity which can range in spectrum from mild myalgia without an elevation in creatine kinase to rare life-threatening autoimmune necrotizing myositis.
Genetic determinants of drug response and adverse drug reactions are well known. The application of genetic information to individualize drug treatments to maximize efficacy and avoid adverse events, pharmacogenetics is an important component of precision medicine.
