title: Sudden cardiac death during anabolic steroid abuse: morphologic and toxicologic findings in two fatal cases of bodybuilders.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Forensic Pathology, University of Foggia, Ospedali Riuniti, Foggia, Italy. vfinesc@tin.it
authors.forename: Vittorio
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Fineschi
authors.forename: Irene
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Riezzo
authors.forename: Fabio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Centini
authors.forename: Enrico
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Silingardi
authors.forename: Manuela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Licata
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Beduschi
authors.forename: Steven B
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Karch
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D045930:Anabolic Agents