POTENTIAL FOR THE EFFECTS OF ANABOLIC-STEROID ABUSE IN THE IMMUNE ANDNEUROENDOCRINE AXIS

Some of the effects that high-dose anabolic steroid abuse have and cou ld have on the interactions between the immune and neuroendocrine syst ems are reviewed. Considering the past demonstrations on the actions o f normal steroids on endocrine and immune responses, it is apparent th at pharmacologically high doses of both normal and derivatized androge ns (anabolic steroids) could have a significant effect. Indeed, some o f the pathologies attributed to anabolic steroid abuse point to distur bances in the intimate connection between neuroendocrine and immune fu nction and interaction. We attempt to review both the direct and indir ect effects of this abuse, not only on this interaction but also on ce rtain immune functions in particular. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science B.V.