Philippe Camus, M.D.

Dijon, France

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The Drug-Induced Respiratory Disease Website

Anabolic androgenic steroids

Complications of anabolic steroids (e.g mesterolone, nandrolone, stanozolol, tamoxifen, testosterone) depend on dose, duration and route of administration. For instance, oil embolism syndrome can be seen post-injection and cardiomyopathy and CAD are seen with chronic buccaly-administered steroids. Special attention required in bodybuilders. Oily excipients may play a role. Some bodybuilders also inject themselves with Synthol. Watching social networks for undisclosed information on adverse effects can be useful

I - Cardiac arrhythmia(s)/dysrhythmia(s) (AF, VT, VF, TdP) - QTc prolongation)

I.a

Cardiac arrhythmias or dysrhythmias (AF, VT, VF, TdP)

III - Myocardial ischemia - Coronary artery disease

III.a

Coronary artery disease (acute) - Myocardial ischemia/infarction
III.b

Coronary artery disease (subacute, chronic)

VI - Cardiomyopathy

VI.a

Cardiomyopathy (acute, subacute, chronic)
VI.b

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy

VII - Cardiotoxicity

VII.a

‘Cardiotoxicity’

X - Pulmonary edema

X.a

Pulmonary edema, cardiogenic

XII - Pericardial involvement

XII.b

Pericardial effusion (w/wo tamponade)

XIII - Thrombosis - Embolism

XIII.f

Fat/oil embolism - The FES embolism syndrome

XVI - Hemorrhage - Bleeding - Hematoma(s)

XVI.e

Alveolar hemorrhage (AH), diffuse AH (DAH)

XXII - Acute respiratory/cardiorespiratory failure

XXII.b

Acute lung injury - ARDS

XXIV - Interstitial lung disease - Pulmonary infiltrates - Pulmonary fibrosis

XXIV.y

Exogenous lipoid pneumonia (subacute, acute)

XXXVIII - Miscellaneous - Varia

XXXVIII.h

Hypoxemia, low oxygen saturation (may occur in isolation)