Sudden cardiac death during anabolic steroid abuse: morphologic and toxicologic findings in two fatal cases of bodybuilders.
We report two cases of sudden cardiac death (SCD) involving previously healthy bodybuilders who were chronic androgenic-anabolic steroids users. In both instances, autopsies, histology of the organs, and toxicologic screening were performed. Our findings support an emerging consensus that the effects of vigorous weight training, combined with anabolic steroid use and increased androgen sensitivity, may predispose these young men to myocardial injury and even SCD.
Fineschi
Vittorio
V
Institute of Forensic Pathology, University of Foggia, Ospedali Riuniti, Foggia, Italy. vfinesc@tin.it
Riezzo
Irene
I
Centini
Fabio
F
Silingardi
Enrico
E
Licata
Manuela
M
Beduschi
Giovanni
G
Karch
Steven B
SB
D000328:Adult; D045930:Anabolic Agents / Q000506:poisoning*; D001344:Autopsy / Q000379:methods*; D015984:Causality; D016757:Death, Sudden, Cardiac / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D004300:Doping in Sports; D053593:Forensic Toxicology / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015813:Substance Abuse Detection; D014891:Weight Lifting
D045930:Anabolic Agents