Cardiomyopathy and heart failure secondary to anabolic-androgen steroid abuse

Onyedika J Ilonze; Chioma O Enyi; Chibuzo C Ilonze

doi:10.1080/08998280.2022.2039496

Cardiomyopathy and heart failure secondary to anabolic-androgen steroid abuse

Proc (Bayl Univ Med Cent). 2022 Mar 17;35(3):363-365. doi: 10.1080/08998280.2022.2039496. eCollection 2022.

Authors

Onyedika J Ilonze¹, Chioma O Enyi², Chibuzo C Ilonze³

Affiliations

¹ Krannert Institute of Cardiology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana.
² Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas.
³ Department of Hematology/Oncology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama.

Abstract

Bodybuilders often use anabolic-androgenic steroids to improve performance. We report a case of a 30-year-old male bodybuilder with anabolic-androgen steroid abuse while getting ready for a bodybuilding contest. He had New York Heart Association class IV heart failure, severe nonischemic dilated cardiomyopathy, new-onset atrial fibrillation, cardiogenic pulmonary edema, and acute respiratory distress requiring mechanical ventilation. After 6 months of heart failure guideline-directed medical therapy, cessation of anabolic steroids, and maintenance of sinus rhythm, his ejection fraction improved.

Keywords: Anabolic-androgen steroid; guideline-directed medical therapy; heart failure; nonischemic cardiomyopathy.

Publication types

Case Reports