Another example of a dangerous condition that can be "unmasked" by statin
drugs, including Atorvastatin (aka Lipitor), fluvastatin (aka  Lescol),
lovastatin (aka Mevacor), pravastatin (aka Pravachol),  simvastatin (aka
Zocor), rosuvastatin (aka Crestor), and cerivastatin  (Baycol), and now
Vytorin (Zocor and Zetia (ezetimibe/simvastatin) combination).

In this statin unmasking phenomenon, a very grave or dangerous condition
such as Parkinson's Disease, Huntington's Disease, or ALS (Lou Gehrig's
Disease - Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis), and now Acid Maltase Deficiency.
The patient has no symptoms whatsoever, until statins cause the condition to
trigger.

In this case, the condition is a grave neuromuscular disorder.  Statin
Adverse Effects are well-known to cause neuromuscular damage, and muscle
damage and nerve damage independently.  He is the citation from Pub Med:

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstra
ct&list_uids=16018797&query_hl=7

J Intern Med. 2005 Aug;258(2):196-7.
Statin-disclosed acid maltase deficiency.

Voermans NC, Lammens M, Wevers RA, Hermus AR, van Engelen BG.

PMID: 16018797 [PubMed - in process]

No abstract.  Full-text can be purchased via the Journal of Internal
Medicine,
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/utils/lofref.fcgi?PrId=3046&uid=16018797&db=p
ubmed&url=http://www.blackwell-synergy.com/openurl?genre=article&sid=nlm:pubmed&
issn=0954-6820&date=2005&volume=258&issue=2&spage=196

For those who are unaware of Acid Maltase Deficiency, as I was, there is an
informative site:
http://www.amda-pompe.org/acid.htm

Some quotes:

AMD - Acid Maltase Deficiency - Pompe's Disease
A Brief Summary

The Acid Maltase Deficiency Association was established in 1995 to assist in
funding research and to promote public awareness of Pompe disease. Pompe
disease is one of a family of 49 rare genetic disorders known as Lysosomal
Storage Diseases or LSDs. Pompe disease is also known as Acid Maltase
Deficiency or Glycogen Storage Disease type II. It affects an estimated
5,000 to 10,000 people in the developed world.

Cause of Pompe disease.....
Pompe disease is caused by a complete or partial deficiency of the lysosomal
enzyme, alpha-glucosidase. This enzyme is necessary to break down glycogen
and to convert it into glucose. Without this enzyme, glycogen, a thick
sticky substance, accumulates in the lysosomes (sacs within the muscle
cells) and leads to severe muscle degradation. It predominately affects the
heart, skeletal, and respiratory muscles of the patient.

Cause of Pompe disease.....
...

In the delayed onset form progression of the disease is less rapid. Symptoms
can manifest at any age of life and can greatly affect the quality of life
as well as the life span of the afflicted person. Delayed onset patients
that develop symptoms in childhood are more severely affected and typically
die by the second or third decade of life. As the disease progresses,
patients lose mobility, become wheelchair bound or bedridden. Respiratory
functions greatly diminish and mechanical ventilation becomes necessary.
Death results from cardio-respiratory complications.

Clinical forms of Pompe disease.....
Clinical forms of the disease vary according to the age of onset and percent
of enzyme activity.

...

The Delayed Onset Form.....
can present at any age. Delayed onset patients produce a minimal amount of
enzyme. Progression and severity of the disease is probably attributable to
the amount of enzyme produced and to the age of onset of symptoms. Glycogen
build up is not as rapid as in the infantile form but the disease is
progressive and can greatly decrease the life span of the afflicted person.
In the delayed onset form deterioration of muscle is mainly confined to the
skeletal muscles, the diaphragm, the limb-girdle, and the trunk. Respiratory
complications are the main cause of death. Delayed onset patients that
present symptoms early in life are usually more severely affected and rarely
survive past the second or third decade of life. Patients that experience
onset later in life generally progress at a slower pace.

...

more from the site, run by

AMDA
Acid Maltase Deficiency Association
P.O. Box 700248
San Antonio, Texas 78270-0248
Phone: 210-494-6144
Fax: 210-490-7161