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.