13 replies to this topic

[\SHINE/]

looks like aas may enhance this effect a bit on top of weight training, somthing I think we all should get checked out since were in the iron game.

peace.



Left Ventricular Wall Thickening Does Occur in Elite Power Athletes with or without Anabolic Steroid Use
Rob D. Dickermana, Frederick Schallerb, Walter J. McConathyb

Departments of
a Biomedical Sciences and
b Medicine, University of North Texas Health Science Center, Fort Worth, Tex., USA


Address of Corresponding Author

Cardiology 1998;90:145-148 (DOI: 10.1159/000006834)


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Key Words

Left ventricular wall thickness
Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy
Anabolic steroids
Androgens
Resistance exercise
Pressor response

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Abstract

Reports on the occurrence of left ventricular wall thickening in resistance-trained athletes have rejected the possibility for this physiological adaptation to occur without concomitant anabolic steroid abuse. Others have concluded short bursts of arterial hypertension that occur with maximal weight lifting are not sufficient to induce left ventricular wall thickening, and left ventricular wall thickness 13 mm should not be found in pure resistance-trained athletes. Therefore, we examined 4 elite resistance-trained athletes by two-dimensional echocardiography. In addition, we retrospectively examined the individual left ventricular dimensions of 13 bodybuilders from our previous echocardiographic studies. All 4 elite resistance-trained athletes had left ventricular wall thicknesses beyond 13 mm. One of the elite bodybuilders has the largest left ventricular wall thickness (16 mm) ever reported in a power athlete. Retrospectively, 43% of the drug-free bodybuilders and 100% of the steroid users had left ventricular wall thickness beyond the normal range of 11 mm. In addition, 1 drug-free subject and 3 steroid users were beyond the critical mark of 13 mm. No subjects demonstrated diastolic dysfunction. In contrast to previous reports, we have demonstrated that left ventricular wall thicknesses 13 mm can be found routinely in elite resistance-trained athletes. The use of anabolic steroids concomitant with intensive resistance exercise does appear to augment left ventricular size without dysfunction. Anabolic steroids may accelerate left ventricular wall thickening indirectly by increasing strength, thus augmenting the pressor response.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[vindiesel]

I have read many articles about the influence of resistance or aerobic training on the heart but it's good to know that whether or not you are using AAS, there wasn't any dysfunction.

[\SHINE/]

Yea it's nice to know unless you have a pre-existing heart condition aas are mos likely not gona give you heart problems.

[MissKBuff]

Yea it's nice to know unless you have a pre-existing heart condition aas are mos likely not gona give you heart problems.

Yep, it's not likely to give you heart issues, if used properly. But it can definitely worsen pre-existig ones.

[ThatBro]

Good clip bro... that made me feel warm and fuzzy inside.

[any1uno]

an interesting read. thank you for sharing.

[fazzek]

The hypertrophy goes down after your cycle though bro. Just had a heart condition in December, I went to the doctor that I interned under who is a cardiac surgeon, and he agreed with me. So we can all relax, unless you never come off like me.....

[asleep]

wow, good info.

[piotr]

excellent info, thankyou!

PIOTR

[\SHINE/]

Cardiovascular side effects of anabolic-androgenic steroids][Article in German]


Kindermann W.
Institut für Sport- und Präventivmedizin der Universität des Saarlandes, Saarbrücken. w.kindermann@mx.uni-saarland.de

The intake of anabolic-androgenic steroids (AAS) leads to an increase in skeletal muscle mass and is prohibited as a doping measure in sport. AAS abuse is not limited to competitive athletes. It is also prevalent in subjects who do body building or resistance training for cosmetic reasons only. Out of the numerous and partly serious side effects, the cardiovascular ones are presented here. An increase in left ventricular muscle mass is well documented, and some researchers have even reported concentric hypertrophy. By contrast, resistance training without AAS intake does not lead to increased ventricular wall thickness. AAS do not affect the systolic function of the left ventricle, whereas diastolic function might be impaired. Different ultrastructural myocardial alterations have been documented in animal studies. In addition, AAS can induce arterial hypertension. Blood clotting and fibrinolysis are negatively affected, and several case studies of thrombi exist in young strength athletes. Changes in the concentration of blood lipoproteins, particularly a reduction in vessel-protective HDL cholesterol, can lead to early atherosclerosis. Many case reports exist about cardiac deaths in seemingly healthy subjects-most often body builders and other strength athletes. In fatal and nonfatal myocardial infarctions patent coronary arteries were proven frequently. Besides the prothrombotic effects of AAS, an impaired endothelial function and vasospasms are discussed hypothetically as pathomechanisms. Also, cardiomyopathies can occur due to AAS abuse. On the basis of the described possible cardiovascular side effects, it can be concluded that in cases of sudden cardiac deaths in young athletes, a misuse of AS should be excluded.

PMID: 17036188 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]



Are the cardiac effects of anabolic steroid abuse in strength athletes reversible?Urhausen A, Albers T, Kindermann W.
Institute of Sports and Preventive Medicine, University of Saarland Saarbruecken, Germany. a.urhausen@rz.uni-sb.de

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the reversibility of adverse cardiovascular effects after chronic abuse of anabolic androgenic steroids (AAS) in athletes. METHODS: Doppler echocardiography and cycle ergometry including measurements of blood pressure at rest and during exercise were undertaken in 32 bodybuilders or powerlifters, including 15 athletes who had not been taking AAS for at least 12 months (ex-users) and 17 currently abusing AAS (users), as well as in 15 anabolic-free weightlifters. RESULTS: Systolic blood pressure was higher in users (mean (SD) 140 (10) mm Hg) than in ex-users (130 (5) mm Hg) (p < 0.05) or weightlifters (125 (10) mm Hg; p < 0.001). Left ventricular muscle mass related to fat-free body mass and the ratio of mean left ventricular wall thickness to internal diameter were not significantly higher in users (3.32 (0.48) g/kg and 42.1 (4.4)%) than in ex-users (3.16 (0.53) g/kg and 40.3 (3.8)%), but were lower in weightlifters (2.43 (0.26) g/kg and 36.5 (4.0)%; p < 0.001). Left ventricular wall thickness related to fat-free body mass was also lower in weightlifters, but did not differ between users and ex-users. Left ventricular wall thickness was correlated with a point score estimating AAS abuse in users (r = 0.49, p < 0.05). In all groups, systolic left ventricular function was within the normal range. The maximum late transmitral Doppler flow velocity (Amax) was higher in users (61 (12) cm/s) and ex-users (60 (12) cm/s) than in weightlifters (50 (9) cm/s; p < 0.05 and p = 0.054). CONCLUSIONS: Several years after discontinuation of anabolic steroid abuse, strength athletes still show a slight concentric left ventricular hypertrophy in comparison with AAS-free strength athletes.

PMID: 15084541 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
PMCID: PMC1768225

[MissKBuff]

Cardiovascular side effects of anabolic-androgenic steroids][Article in German]


Kindermann W.
Institut für Sport- und Präventivmedizin der Universität des Saarlandes, Saarbrücken. w.kindermann@mx.uni-saarland.de

The intake of anabolic-androgenic steroids (AAS) leads to an increase in skeletal muscle mass and is prohibited as a doping measure in sport. AAS abuse is not limited to competitive athletes. It is also prevalent in subjects who do body building or resistance training for cosmetic reasons only. Out of the numerous and partly serious side effects, the cardiovascular ones are presented here. An increase in left ventricular muscle mass is well documented, and some researchers have even reported concentric hypertrophy. By contrast, resistance training without AAS intake does not lead to increased ventricular wall thickness. AAS do not affect the systolic function of the left ventricle, whereas diastolic function might be impaired. Different ultrastructural myocardial alterations have been documented in animal studies. In addition, AAS can induce arterial hypertension. Blood clotting and fibrinolysis are negatively affected, and several case studies of thrombi exist in young strength athletes. Changes in the concentration of blood lipoproteins, particularly a reduction in vessel-protective HDL cholesterol, can lead to early atherosclerosis. Many case reports exist about cardiac deaths in seemingly healthy subjects-most often body builders and other strength athletes. In fatal and nonfatal myocardial infarctions patent coronary arteries were proven frequently. Besides the prothrombotic effects of AAS, an impaired endothelial function and vasospasms are discussed hypothetically as pathomechanisms. Also, cardiomyopathies can occur due to AAS abuse. On the basis of the described possible cardiovascular side effects, it can be concluded that in cases of sudden cardiac deaths in young athletes, a misuse of AS should be excluded.

PMID: 17036188 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]



Are the cardiac effects of anabolic steroid abuse in strength athletes reversible?Urhausen A, Albers T, Kindermann W.
Institute of Sports and Preventive Medicine, University of Saarland Saarbruecken, Germany. a.urhausen@rz.uni-sb.de

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the reversibility of adverse cardiovascular effects after chronic abuse of anabolic androgenic steroids (AAS) in athletes. METHODS: Doppler echocardiography and cycle ergometry including measurements of blood pressure at rest and during exercise were undertaken in 32 bodybuilders or powerlifters, including 15 athletes who had not been taking AAS for at least 12 months (ex-users) and 17 currently abusing AAS (users), as well as in 15 anabolic-free weightlifters. RESULTS: Systolic blood pressure was higher in users (mean (SD) 140 (10) mm Hg) than in ex-users (130 (5) mm Hg) (p < 0.05) or weightlifters (125 (10) mm Hg; p < 0.001). Left ventricular muscle mass related to fat-free body mass and the ratio of mean left ventricular wall thickness to internal diameter were not significantly higher in users (3.32 (0.48) g/kg and 42.1 (4.4)%) than in ex-users (3.16 (0.53) g/kg and 40.3 (3.8)%), but were lower in weightlifters (2.43 (0.26) g/kg and 36.5 (4.0)%; p < 0.001). Left ventricular wall thickness related to fat-free body mass was also lower in weightlifters, but did not differ between users and ex-users. Left ventricular wall thickness was correlated with a point score estimating AAS abuse in users (r = 0.49, p < 0.05). In all groups, systolic left ventricular function was within the normal range. The maximum late transmitral Doppler flow velocity (Amax) was higher in users (61 (12) cm/s) and ex-users (60 (12) cm/s) than in weightlifters (50 (9) cm/s; p < 0.05 and p = 0.054). CONCLUSIONS: Several years after discontinuation of anabolic steroid abuse, strength athletes still show a slight concentric left ventricular hypertrophy in comparison with AAS-free strength athletes.

PMID: 15084541 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
PMCID: PMC1768225

Good info! Thanks for posting

[ruffneck]

That last article is very hard to beleive especially the highlighted sentence. There is no way that you can say AAS is linked to left ventricular hypertrophy then say that it can't be linked to sudden death. Left ventricular hypertrophy leads to congestive heart failure that leads to death or drowning in your own secretions. May not be sudden but its death. So the article is kinda contradicting itself.

[\SHINE/]

That last article is very hard to beleive especially the highlighted sentence. There is no way that you can say AAS is linked to left ventricular hypertrophy then say that it can't be linked to sudden death. Left ventricular hypertrophy leads to congestive heart failure that leads to death or drowning in your own secretions. May not be sudden but its death. So the article is kinda contradicting itself.

Yea, thing is there's more info in favor of not the cause of effects. Thing is with science there's a lota contradicting studies out there. IMO aas seem to agravate already prexisitng heart problems.

[fivetwofive]

I'd be very interested to know whether anyone with HCM or pulmonary edema has been exposed in any way to gear being made. Perhaps you can talk about a friend who was in this position, something anonymous. I'm interested also in finding ot whether any animals in such an environment developed pulmonary edema. It's fine to answer via PM; thanks!

525