Anabolic-Androgenic Steroids Induced Cardiomyopathy: A Narrative Review of the Literature.
Level 5 - mechanism / opinion, no new human data
Narrative review summarizing mechanisms and clinical manifestations without systematic methodology.
PubMed 41007753 · doi:10.3390/biomedicines13092190
What was done
The authors synthesized literature on the cardiovascular consequences of anabolic-androgenic steroid (AAS) misuse, focusing on pathophysiological mechanisms, diagnostic tools (biomarkers, echocardiography, cardiac MRI), structural and functional cardiac changes, and reversibility upon cessation.
What was found
No quantitative pooled data or numerical estimates were reported in the abstract. Qualitatively, the review notes that supraphysiologic AAS exposure leads to oxidative stress, RAAS dysregulation, pro-apoptotic signaling, concentric hypertrophy, myocardial fibrosis, impaired diastolic function, reduced ejection fraction, arrhythmias, and vascular stiffening. Myocardial damage may be fully, partially, or not reversible depending on dosage, exposure duration, and timing of cessation.
Why it matters
The review provides a comprehensive overview of how non-medical AAS use impairs cardiac structure and function, highlighting clinical evaluation strategies and the variable reversibility of steroid-induced cardiomyopathy.
Limits
This is an unsystematic narrative review, precluding quantitative synthesis or meta-analytic risk estimation. The abstract does not provide sample sizes, search criteria, specific exposure thresholds, or quantitative reversibility rates.
Cited by
- supports Supraphysiological levels of androgens induce dose-dependent neurotoxicity, adverse cardiac remodeling, and dyslipidemia.