Ultrastructural analysis of ruptured tendon from anabolic steroid users

Tendon rupture has been linked with anabolic steroid abuse on the basis of a small number of published case reports. Although experimental data from a nimal models suggest steroids alter the biomechanical properties of tendon, ultrastructural evidence to support this theory is lacking. Indeed, micros copic analysis of human tendon from steroid users has not previously been r eported. In this study, specimens of ruptured human tendon from four patien ts were biopsied during surgical repair. Two of the subjects were anabolic steroid users, and two subjects were used as nonsteroid-user controls. Rupt ured tendon from both groups was examined using electron microscopy. No dif ferences in collagen fibril ultrastructure were seen. We conclude that anab olic steroids did not induce ultrastructural collagen changes that might pr edispose to tendon rupture in humans. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd. All ri ghts reserved.