A 50-year-old man comes to the physician for his annual health maintenance examination. The patient feels well. He has a history of hypertension, for which he currently takes lisinopril. He has smoked a pack of cigarettes daily for 20 years. He drinks five to six beers on weekends. He is 181 cm tall (5 ft 11 in) and weighs 80 kg (176 lb); BMI is 25 kg/m2. His pulse is 75/min, respirations are 18/min, and blood pressure is 140/85 mm Hg. Physical examination is unremarkable. Laboratory studies show: current LDL level of 190 mg/dL. Which of the following should be obtained before starting statin therapy in this patient?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Eductional Objective: Common side effects of HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors (statins) include muscle and liver toxicity.  Hepatic transaminases should be checked prior to initiating therapy and repeated if symptoms of hepatic injury occur.

A 50-Year-Old Man Comes to the Physician for His Annual