Chinese Red Rice-induced Myopathy
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
12-1-2003
Description
A middle-aged man presented with joint pain and muscle weakness that had begun 2 months before presentation. Three months before presentation, he had begun to take the herbal preparation Chinese red rice. Laboratory testing revealed a moderately elevated creatine phosphokinase level. Symptoms and laboratory abnormalities resolved with discontinuation of the Chinese red rice. Eight months later, he resumed the product and his creatine phosphokinase level rose again. Lovastatin is a naturally occurring component of Chinese red rice and was the probable cause of his myopathy.
Citation Information
Smith, Dena J.; and Olive, Kenneth E.. 2003. Chinese Red Rice-induced Myopathy. Southern Medical Journal. Vol.96(12). 1265-1267. https://doi.org/10.1097/01.SMJ.0000100117.79718.DC PMID: 14696880 ISSN: 0038-4348