CARDIOVASCULAR EFFECTS OF ANABOLIC-STEROIDS IN WEIGHT-TRAINED SUBJECTS

The effects of large doses of anabolic steroids on 24-hour blood press ure, cardiac structure and function, and lipid profiles were studied i n 10 body builders using anabolic steroids and 14 body builders who di d not use steroids (control subjects). All subjects underwent noninvas ive 24-hour blood pressure monitoring echocardiography, Doppler analys is of transmitral flow, and analysis for lipoprotein and gonadotropin levels. Anabolic steroid users were studied at the end of a steroid cy cle and after a period of withdrawal. Average 24-hour blood pressure w as similar in the two groups, but anabolic steroid users exhibited a s maller pressure reduction during sleep than did nonusers. This finding was present both at the end of treatment and after the period of with drawal. Echocardiographic dimensional and functional indexes did not d iffer substantially between anabolic steroid users and the nonusers, a nd were similar in anabolic steroid users during use and after withdra wal. Anabolic steroid users also had higher LDL and lower HDL choleste rol levels than nonusers; Lp(a) was higher in nonusers, although this difference did not attain the level of statistical significance. These differences were more striking at the end of the treatment period. Th e results of this study show that chronic anabolic steroid intake caus es an abnormal 24-hour blood pressure pattern, characterized by a flat tening of the diurnal curve, and minor changes of the dimensional echo cardiographic parameters.