Why the study?
Anabolic-androgenic steroid use has been linked to various cardiac adverse effects including cardiomyopathy, but the relationship and pathophysiology remain incompletely understood.
Case Report (n=1)
Anabolic steroid use may cause severe nonischemic cardiomyopathy in young adults; single-case evidence leaves open the need for prospective confirmation and screening guidelines.
A 30-year-old male presented to the emergency department with dyspnea, fatigue, orthopnea, and paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea for the past three months. The patient admitted to anabolic steroid use for the past 11 years. Transthoracic echocardiography was significant for severely dilated left ventricle, diffuse hypokinesis, ejection fraction < 15%, and grade II diastolic dysfunction. The patient was diagnosed with decompensated, non-ischemic cardiomyopathy stage C, and New York Heart Classification (NYHA) class III > IV, likely from use of anabolic steroids, after a negative workup for other etiologies. On follow-up after continuation of guideline-directed medical therapy, the patient demonstrated improved heart failure status (NYHA class I > II). Cardiomyopathy is a rare but important adverse effect of anabolic steroids to consider.
No takes yet. Share an insight, caveat, or question.
Sodhi et al. (2020) conducted a case report in Decompensated non-ischemic cardiomyopathy (n=1). Anabolic-androgenic steroids was evaluated on Development of decompensated non-ischemic cardiomyopathy. Long-term anabolic-androgenic steroid abuse in a 30-year-old male resulted in severe decompensated non-ischemic cardiomyopathy with an ejection fraction <15%.
Synapse has enriched 5 closely related papers on similar clinical questions. Consider them for comparative context: