Which baseline test should be checked before initiating statin therapy due to risk of muscle effects?

Which baseline test should be checked before initiating statin therapy due to risk of muscle effects?

• A. Baseline Serum Creatine Kinase
• B. Baseline Creatinine clearance
• C. Baseline Serum Sodium
• D. Baseline ALT

Answer: (A)

Statins can cause muscle effects, including myopathy and, rarely, rhabdomyolysis. Creatine kinase is an enzyme released when muscle fibers are damaged, so measuring a baseline CK provides a reference point to detect any future rise indicating muscle injury after starting a statin. If symptoms such as muscle pain or weakness occur, a CK check helps distinguish statin-related muscle injury from other causes. Other options don’t directly assess muscle injury risk: kidney function (creatinine clearance) informs dosing but isn’t a marker of muscle damage; serum sodium isn’t related to statin muscle risk; baseline ALT is about liver safety, not muscle effects. Therefore, a baseline CK is the most relevant test for this risk.

Statins can cause muscle effects, including myopathy and, rarely, rhabdomyolysis. Creatine kinase is an enzyme released when muscle fibers are damaged, so measuring a baseline CK provides a reference point to detect any future rise indicating muscle injury after starting a statin. If symptoms such as muscle pain or weakness occur, a CK check helps distinguish statin-related muscle injury from other causes. Other options don’t directly assess muscle injury risk: kidney function (creatinine clearance) informs dosing but isn’t a marker of muscle damage; serum sodium isn’t related to statin muscle risk; baseline ALT is about liver safety, not muscle effects. Therefore, a baseline CK is the most relevant test for this risk.