Atrial fibrillation and anabolic steroids

A young male bodybuilder, consuming large doses of anabolic steroids (AS), presented to the Emergency Department (ED) with symptomatic rapid atrial fi brillation (AF), Echocardiogram revealed significant septal hypokinesis, an d posterior and septal wall thickness at the upper limit of normal for high ly trained athletes. The atrial fibrillation had not recurred at 10 weeks a fter discontinuation of AS use. Consumption of these agents in athletes has been associated with hypertension, ischemic heart disease, hypertrophic ca rdiomyopathy, and sudden death. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Inc.