[Pleurisy induced by atorvastatin].

INTRODUCTION

Whereas numerous case reports have described statin-induced lung injuries, statin-induced pleural effusions are uncommon.

CASE REPORT: An 84-year-old man presented with bilateral pleural effusions two years after starting treatment with atorvastatin. No other cause of pleural effusion was found and all symptoms and radiological signs resolved rapidly after discontinuation of the drug. Furthermore, an accidental reintroduction of the treatment resulted in recurrence of the same clinical picture, reinforcing the hypothesis that atorvastatin was responsible for this pleural effusion.

CONCLUSION

Pleuropulmonary manifestations in a patient treated with atorvastatin should rapidly evoke an iatrogenic origin and the discontinuation of the drug should be discussed.