Which assessment indicates possible damage to skeletal muscle from lovastatin therapy?

The assessment that indicates possible damage to skeletal muscle from lovastatin therapy is the presence of brownish colored urine. This change in urine color can be a sign of myoglobinuria, a condition that occurs when damaged muscle cells release myoglobin into the bloodstream. When myoglobin is excreted in the urine, it can lead to a brownish discoloration.

Lovastatin, like other statins, can cause muscle-related side effects, including myopathy and rhabdomyolysis, where significant muscle breakdown occurs. Monitoring urine color is an important part of assessing for these potential side effects. If myoglobin levels rise due to muscle damage, the released myoglobin can cause acute kidney injury, hence the importance of recognizing brownish urine as a warning sign.

In this context, brownish colored urine serves as a clinical indicator that necessitates further evaluation of the patient's muscle function and possible discontinuation of the statin therapy.