Case report

Multi-organ damage induced by anabolic steroid supplements: a case report and literature review

Ali A Samaha^1,2,3,4,5,6 , Walid Nasser-Eddine¹ , Elizabeth Shatila¹ , John J Haddad³ , Jaafar Wazne¹ and Ali H Eid⁷

¹  Department of Internal Medicine, Makassed General Hospital, Beirut, Lebanon

²  Department of Human Morphology, Faculty of Public Health, Lebanese University, Zahle, Lebanon

³  Cellular and Molecular Signaling Research Group, Departments of Biology and Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Arts and Sciences, Lebanese International University, Beirut, Lebanon

⁴  Department of Nutrition and Dietetic, Faculty of Arts and Sciences, Lebanese International University, Beirut, Lebanon

⁵  Clinical Laboratory, Faculty of Public Health, Lebanese University, Zahle, Lebanon

⁶  Lebanese School of Social Formation: Community Health Program, Saint-Joseph University, Beirut, Lebanon

⁷  Department of Biology, College of Science, United Arab Emirates University, Al-Ain, UAE

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Journal of Medical Case Reports 2008, 2:340doi:10.1186/1752-1947-2-340

Published:	31 October 2008

Abstract

Introduction

The use of anabolic supplements and other related drugs for body building and to enhance athletic performance is nowadays widespread and acutely pervasive all around the world. This alarming increase in the use of anabolic and amino acid supplements has been linked to a diverse array of pathologies. As previously reported, the abuse of androgenic steroids is not without severe physiological, psychiatric and physical costs. The case we report here describes multi-organ damage resulting from the abuse and uncontrolled use of anabolic steroid supplements, mainly testosterone.

Case presentation

A 24-year-old white man presented with abdominal pain concomitant with nausea and vomiting. Laboratory analysis revealed hypercalcemia, elevated liver enzymes and high levels of amylase, lipase and creatine protein kinase.

Conclusion

Amino acid as well as anabolic supplements may lead to abnormal functioning of many organs, which could be fatal in some instances. This mandates worldwide and concerted efforts to educate the public, especially the youth, about the dangers of these increasingly abused drugs.