Citation

Li C, Adhikari BK, Gao L, Zhang S, Liu Q, Wang Y, Sun J. Am. J. Men. Health 2018; 12(5): 1700-1704.

Affiliation

Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2018, SAGE Publishing)

DOI

10.1177/1557988318783504

PMID

29926766

Abstract

A number of performance-enhancing drugs (PEDs) are used illicitly to improve muscle strength by the bodybuilders. The misuse of these drugs is associated with serious adverse effects to different organs. A previously healthy 22-year-old male bodybuilder after taking stanozolol, clenbuterol, and triiodothyronine for 10 days presented to the hospital with symptoms of icteric sclera, progressive dyspnea, intermittent cough, and bloody sputum. He was diagnosed with dilated cardiomyopathy and acute hepatic injury. Rapidly progressive dilated cardiomyopathy and acute hepatic injury among bodybuilders in such a short period of time have not been reported. People using these drugs must monitor liver and cardiac functions regularly, and they should discontinue using PEDs after diagnosis of liver or cardiac abnormalities. Physicians should always consider the possibility of the PED abuse in the context of a young athlete suffering cardiomyopathy or hepatic injury.

Language: en

Keywords

cardiomyopathy; clenbuterol; heart failure; hepatic injury; stanozolol; triiodothyronine