Another Study on AAS and Cardiac Risk

[CFC]

This paper carries on from a post I made a while back about overlooked cardiac issues and AAS. Again, this is not representative of all AAS users, but it's worth being able to weigh up the pros and cons whenever you embark on PED use, especially if considering something like long-term blast-n-cruise.

I also found a decent summary of the whole paper with some pretty scary pics on ergo-log, linked beneath.

***

Forensic Sci Int. 2012 Apr 10;217(1-3)
Anabolic androgenic steroids abuse and cardiac death in athletes: morphological and toxicological findings in four fatal cases.
Montisci M1, El Mazloum R, Cecchetto G, Terranova C, Ferrara SD, Thiene G, Basso C.

Anabolic androgenic steroids (AAS) are the main class of doping agents and their consumption produces adverse effects involving several organs and systems. Three cases of sudden cardiac death (SCD) and one of death due to congestive heart failure of previously healthy athletes who were AAS users are herein reported. Concentric cardiac hypertrophy with focal fibrosis (one case), dilated cardiomyopathy with patchy myocyte death (two cases) and eosinophilic myocarditis (one case) were observed and most probably relate to the final event. Molecular investigation for viral genomes was positive in one case (Ebstein virus). Our data confirm previous findings, showing that the most typical cardiac abnormality in AAS abusers is left ventricular hypertrophy, associated with fibrosis and myocytolysis. An exceptional cardiovascular substrate was represented by the case with drug induced eosinophilic myocarditis. These features are at risk of ventricular arrhythmias as well as congestive heart failure. The cause-effect relationship between AAS abuse and cardiac death can be established only by a rigorous methodology with the use of standardized protocols, including precise morphological studies of all target organs to search for chronic toxic effects. Laboratory investigations should focus on AAS searching on a wide range of biological matrices to demonstrate type, magnitude and time of exposure.


Article Summary at Ergo-Log:

http://www.ergo-log.com/dead-bodybuilder-s-heart-weighed-a-kilo.html

 

[Snarky91]

The cardiac hypertrophy problem is easily most chilling out of any of the side effects. That and all the wrestlers who die in 30s and 40s. And I was reading a site against steroid use not sure if it was Taylor hooten prob one somehow linked with it. Anyway, the who's who of bodybuilders deceased in early age, before 50 in almost all cases is very chilling. And of course the number who have bypass operations and other serious surgeries to correct problems with their heart and other organs is ver telling a lot of people tend to forget schwarzenegger himself is one of these guys. Definitely makes one question if it's worth it to get deep into bodybuilding.

 

[Snarky91]

The other worst side effect of steroid use besides direct heart problems is being shutdown permanently. I read GH15 nasser sonbaty regarding pct it's bullshit and bodybuilders stay on hormones permanently... they're pinning those glutes the rest of their life... I don't think this is appealing. it's a question of how many cycles can you do on and off before your natural testosterone production never recovers.

I have older friend report to me today in sad state of affairs regarding low testosterone of 300 (350-850 considered normal) high cholesterol... a bad blood sugar result (vague on this). long story short he blames it on testosterone misuse and being shutdown ever since he stopped using. I think he's like 38 and stopped using 3 years ago. Well, he's knowing I'm on some gear it's obvious and now since he's stressed out he's stressing me out about low modrtality associated with low testosterone and a host of negative effects on health... and honestly it made me really nervous because he can handle a lot of fucking stress in business and family life but I guess when it concerns personal health anybody can get affected... so he's scheduled for another blood test and with one of leading endocrinologist and diabetic and one other specialty this is top notch doctor in thS field..

What is the point right in the end if it's really worst case he'll go on trt gel or oral pill (they say gel is preferable) and in better scenario???

Anybody have idea what will be next for him? Is there any alternative to trt that this big name doctor can even suggest. I told him to run hcg by the doctor just to see if bodybuilding folklore has currency with professional doctors.. I'm very anxious to hear more if I find out anything new developments I'll definitely have to think about and evaluate this.

 

[CFC]

Triptorelin seems to have helped a lot of guys who've hitherto been permanently shut down, although I'm sure it still won't work for everyone.

 

[CFC]

The cardiac hypertrophy problem is easily most chilling out of any of the side effects. That and all the wrestlers who die in 30s and 40s. And I was reading a site against steroid use not sure if it was Taylor hooten prob one somehow linked with it. Anyway, the who's who of bodybuilders deceased in early age, before 50 in almost all cases is very chilling. And of course the number who have bypass operations and other serious surgeries to correct problems with their heart and other organs is ver telling a lot of people tend to forget schwarzenegger himself is one of these guys. Definitely makes one question if it's worth it to get deep into bodybuilding.

I agree cardiovascular issues are very real and should be very worrisome for most guys who tend to stay on AAS for long-periods at high doses. Modern usage (eg blast-n-cruise) may well lead to an epidemic of health problems appearing in the decades ahead.

Conversely studies of users of PEDs from the 1960s-80s have shown no effect on longevity and overall health risk. Which is comforting for those who don't abuse, although probably what we're really witnessing is a balancing effect between the occasional negatives of PED use and the relatively healthy lifestyles of those who use them.