Journal of Cardiac Failure
Volume 15, Issue 6 , Pages 496-500 , August 2009

Anabolics and Cardiomyopathy in a Bodybuilder: Case Report and Literature Review

  • Christoph Ahlgrim, MD
  • ,
  • Maya Guglin, MD, PhD

      Affiliations

    • Corresponding Author InformationCorresponding author: Maya Guglin MD PhD FACC, 2A Columbia Drive Suite 5074, Tampa, FL 33616. Tel: 813-259-0660.

Received 30 September 2008 ,Revised 21 December 2008 ,Accepted 22 December 2008.

References 

  1. Appleby M, Fisher M, Martin M. Myocardial infarction, hyperkalaemia and ventricular tachycardia in a young male body-builder. Int J Cardiol. 1994;44:171–174
  2. Fisher M, Appleby M, Rittoo D, Cotter L. Myocardial infarction with extensive intracoronary thrombus induced by anabolic steroids. Br J Clin Pract. 1996;50:222–223
  3. Godon P, Bonnefoy E, Guerard S, et al. [Myocardial infarction and anabolic steroid use. A case report]. Arch Mal Coeur Vaiss. 2000;93:879–883
  4. Halvorsen S, Thorsby PM, Haug E. [Acute myocardial infarction in a young man who had been using androgenic anabolic steroids]. Tidsskr Nor Laegeforen. 2004;124:170–172
  5. Lyngberg KK. [Myocardial infarction and death of a body builder after using anabolic steroids]. Ugeskr Laeger. 1991;153:587–588
  6. Dickerman RD, Schaller F, Prather I, McConathy WJ. Sudden cardiac death in a 20-year-old bodybuilder using anabolic steroids. Cardiology. 1995;86:172–173
  7. Hausmann R, Hammer S, Betz P. Performance enhancing drugs (doping agents) and sudden death—a case report and review of the literature. Int J Legal Med. 1998;111:261–264
  8. Kennedy MC, Lawrence C. Anabolic steroid abuse and cardiac death. Med J Aust. 1993;158:346–348
  9. Nieminen MS, Ramo MP, Viitasalo M, et al. Serious cardiovascular side effects of large doses of anabolic steroids in weight lifters. Eur Heart J. 1996;17:1576–1583
  10. Sullivan ML, Martinez CM, Gallagher EJ. Atrial fibrillation and anabolic steroids. J Emerg Med. 1999;17:851–857
  11. Lau DH, Stiles MK, John B, Shashidhar , Young GD, Sanders P. Atrial fibrillation and anabolic steroid abuse. Int J Cardiol. 2007;117:e86–e87
  12. Roeggia M, Heinz G, Werba E, Roeggla G. Cardiac tamponade in a 21-year-old body builder with anabolica abuse. Br J Clin Pract. 1996;50:411–412
  13. Ferrera PC, Putnam DL, Verdile VP. Anabolic steroid use as the possible precipitant of dilated cardiomyopathy. Cardiology. 1997;88:218–220
  14. Clark BM, Schofield RS. Dilated cardiomyopathy and acute liver injury associated with combined use of ephedra, gamma-hydroxybutyrate, and anabolic steroids. Pharmacotherapy. 2005;25:756–761
  15. Schollert PV, Bendixen PM. [Dilated cardiomyopathy in a user of anabolic steroids]. Ugeskr Laeger. 1993;155:1217–1218
  16. Vogt AM, Geyer H, Jahn L, Schanzer W, Kubler W. [Cardiomyopathy associated with uncontrolled self medication of anabolic steroids]. Z Kardiol. 2002;91:357–362
  17. Yesalis CE, Bahrke MS. Doping among adolescent athletes. Baillieres Best Pract Res Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2000;14:25–35
  18. Dickerman RD, Schaller F, McConathy WJ. Left ventricular wall thickening does occur in elite power athletes with or without anabolic steroid Use. Cardiology. 1998;90:145–148
  19. Pearson AC, Schiff M, Mrosek D, Labovitz AJ, Williams GA. Left ventricular diastolic function in weight lifters. Am J Cardiol. 1986;58:1254–1259
  20. Haykowsky MJ, Teo KK, Quinney AH, Humen DP, Taylor DA. Effects of long term resistance training on left ventricular morphology. Can J Cardiol. 2000;16:35–38
  21. Haykowsky MJ, Quinney HA, Gillis R, Thompson CR. Left ventricular morphology in junior and master resistance trained athletes. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2000;32:349–352
  22. Loughton SJ, Ruhling RO. Human strength and endurance responses to anabolic steroid and training. J Sports Med Phys Fitness. 1977;17:285–296
  23. Curry LA, Wagman DF. Qualitative description of the prevalence and use of anabolic androgenic steroids by United States powerlifters. Percept Mot Skills. 1999;88:224–233
  24. Blue JG, Lombardo JA. Steroids and steroid-like compounds. Clin Sports Med. 1999;18:667–689ix
  25. Zaugg M, Jamali NZ, Lucchinetti E, et al. Anabolic-androgenic steroids induce apoptotic cell death in adult rat ventricular myocytes. J Cell Physiol. 2001;187:90–95
  26. Behrendt H, Boffin H. Myocardial cell lesions caused by an anabolic hormone. Cell Tissue Res. 1977;181:423–426
  27. Imai K, Hayashi Y, Kono M. Testosterone-induced focal myocarditis in rats. I. Morphological and biochemical studies with special reference to pathogenetical mechanism and species differences. J Toxicol Sci. 1978;3:215–228
  28. Pesola MK. Reversibility of the haemodynamic effects of anabolic steroids in rats. Eur J Appl Physiol Occup Physiol. 1988;58:125–131
  29. Ramo P, Kettunen R, Timisjarvi J, Takala T, Hirvonen L. Anabolic steroids alter the haemodynamic effects of endurance training on the canine left ventricle. Pflugers Arch. 1987;410:272–278
  30. De Piccoli B, Giada F, Benettin A, Sartori F, Piccolo E. Anabolic steroid use in body builders: an echocardiographic study of left ventricle morphology and function. Int J Sports Med. 1991;12:408–412
  31. Thompson PD, Sadaniantz A, Cullinane EM, et al. Left ventricular function is not impaired in weight-lifters who use anabolic steroids. J Am Coll Cardiol. 1992;19:278–282
  32. Csanady M, Gaspar L, Hogye M, Gruber N. The heart in acromegaly: an echocardiographic study. Int J Cardiol. 1983;2:349–361
  33. Cittadini A, Berggren A, Longobardi S, et al. Supraphysiological doses of GH induce rapid changes in cardiac morphology and function. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2002;87:1654–1659
  34. Karila TA, Karjalainen JE, Mantysaari MJ, Viitasalo MT, Seppala TA. Anabolic androgenic steroids produce dose-dependent increase in left ventricular mass in power athletes, and this effect is potentiated by concomitant use of growth hormone. Int J Sports Med. 2003;24:337–343
  35. Pelliccia A, Fagard R, Bjornstad HH, et al. Recommendations for competitive sports participation in athletes with cardiovascular disease: a consensus document from the Study Group of Sports Cardiology of the Working Group of Cardiac Rehabilitation and Exercise Physiology and the Working Group of Myocardial and Pericardial Diseases of the European Society of Cardiology. Eur Heart J. 2005;26:1422–1445
  36. Staiger J, Simon G, Pauer A, Keul J. [Echocardiographic contractility reserve and invasive hemodynamics in physical stress in probands with healthy hearts and patients with dilated cardiomyopathy]. Z Kardiol. 1987;76:635–642

 Conflict of interest: None.

PII: S1071-9164(08)01114-7

doi: 10.1016/j.cardfail.2008.12.014

Journal of Cardiac Failure
Volume 15, Issue 6 , Pages 496-500 , August 2009