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Noninvasive cardiac evaluation of weight‐lifters using anabolic steroids
Author(s) -
Deligiannis A. P.,
Mandroukas K.
Publication year - 1993
Publication title -
scandinavian journal of medicine and science in sports
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.575
H-Index - 115
eISSN - 1600-0838
pISSN - 0905-7188
DOI - 10.1111/j.1600-0838.1993.tb00358.x
Subject(s) - anabolism , medicine , cardiology , lean body mass , athletes , left ventricular hypertrophy , muscle hypertrophy , anabolic steroid , weight lifting , diastole , body weight , blood pressure , endocrinology , physical therapy
The aim of this study was to evaluate the cardiac effects of anabolic steroids in weight‐lifters. Thirty top‐level adult weight‐lifters were studied using physical examination, electrocardiography and m‐mode echocardiography. Fifteen athletes (group A) abused systematically androgenic anabolic steroids, while the rest (group B) had never used such drugs. Body weight, lean body mass and resting systolic blood pressure were found to be greater in group A than B. There were no differences in electrocardiographic findings between the two groups. Echocardiography data showed significant increases for athletes using anabolic steroids compared with others in left ventricular end‐diastolic volume (16%) and mass (17%) as well as in total LV volume (17%). These augmentations were in proportion to the increase in skeletal muscle mass. However, left ventricular systolic function indexes were similar in both groups. These data suggest that anabolic steroids cause left ventricular hypertrophy and dilatation in athletes performing static training.