Chronic anabolic androgenic steroid usage associated with acute coronary syndrome in bodybuilder

Ertan Sonmez; Kenan Ahmet Turkdogan; Cahit Yilmaz; Sitki Kucukbuzcu; Abuzer Ozkan; Ozgur Sogutt

doi:10.1016/j.tjem.2014.11.001

Ertan Sonmez¹, Kenan Ahmet Turkdogan¹, Cahit Yilmaz¹, Sitki Kucukbuzcu², Abuzer Ozkan¹, Ozgur Sogutt¹

¹Department of Emergency Medicine, Bezmialem Vakif University Medical School, Istanbul, Turkey
²Department of Cardiology, Bezmialem Vakif University Medical School, Istanbul, Turkey

Keywords: Bodybuilder; Anabolic steroids; Methenolone acetate; Acute coronary syndrome

Abstract

Introduction: It has been argued in current studies that anabolic androgenic steroids (AAS) are misused by a great number of bodybuilders and athletes. However, there is diverse and often conflicting scientific data on the cardiac and metabolic complications caused by the misuse of AAS. There may be various reasons for myocardial infarction (MI) with normal coronary arteries. However, for the majority of patients, the exact cause is still unknown.

Case report: A 32 year-old male who was complaining about severe chest pain was admitted to our emergency department. He had been taking methenolone acetate 200 mg weekly for a period of three years for body building. His cardiac markers were significantly elevated and electrocardiogram (ECG) showed peaked T waves in all derivations, which did not show ST elevation or depression. Both right and left coronary artery systems were found to be completely normal as a result of the angiogram.

Conclusion: The purpose of this study is to show that AAS induced MI can be encountered with normal coronary arteries during acute coronary syndrome.