title: Abnormal neurovascular control in anabolic androgenic steroids users.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Previous studies showed that anabolic androgenic steroids (AAS) increase vascular resistance and blood pressure (BP) in humans. In this study, we tested the hypotheses 1) that AAS users would have increased muscle sympathetic nerve activity (MSNA) and reduced forearm blood flow (FBF) compared with AAS nonusers and 2) that there would be an association between MSNA and 24-h BP.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twelve AAS users aged 31 +/- 2 yr (means +/- SE) and nine age-matched AAS nonusers aged 29 +/- 2 yr participated in the study. All individuals were involved in strength training for at least 2 yr. AAS was determined by urine test (chromatography-mass spectrometry). MSNA was directly measured by microneurography technique. FBF was measured by venous occlusion plethysmography. BP monitoring consisted of measures of BP for 24 h.
  
  
  RESULTS
  MSNA was significantly higher in AAS users than that in AAS nonusers (29 +/- 3 vs 20 +/- 1 bursts per minute, P = 0.01). FBF (1.92 +/- 0.17 vs 2.77 +/- 0.24 mL x min(-1) x 100 mL(-1), P = 0.01) and forearm vascular conductance (2.01 +/- 0.17 vs 2.86 +/- 0.31 U, P = 0.02) were significantly lower in AAS users than that in AAS nonusers. Systolic (131 +/- 4 vs 120 +/- 3 mm Hg, P = 0.001), diastolic (74 +/- 4 vs 68 +/- 3 mm Hg, P = 0.02), and mean BP (93 +/- 4 vs 86 +/- 3 mm Hg, P = 0.005) and heart rate (74 +/- 3 vs 68 +/- 3 bpm, P = 0.02) were significantly higher in AAS users when compared with AAS nonusers. Further analysis showed that there was a significant correlation between MSNA and 24-h mean BP (r = 0.75, P = 0.002).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  AAS increases MSNA and reduces muscle blood flow in young individuals. In addition, the increase in BP levels in AAS users is associated with augmented sympathetic outflow. These findings suggest that AAS increases the susceptibility for cardiovascular disease in humans.
authors.affiliation: Heart Institute (InCor), University of São Paulo Medical School, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Maria Janieire Nazaré Nunes
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Alves
authors.forename: Marcelo Rodrigues
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Dos Santos
authors.forename: Rodrigo Gonçalves
authors.initials: RG
authors.lastname: Dias
authors.forename: César Abreu
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Akiho
authors.forename: Mateus Camaroti
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Laterza
authors.forename: Maria Urbana Pinto Brandāo
authors.initials: MU
authors.lastname: Rondon
authors.forename: Regina Lucia De Moraes
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Moreau
authors.forename: Carlos Eduardo
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Negrāo
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D045930:Anabolic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000652:urine; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D005542:Forearm / Q000098:blood supply; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000139:chemically induced*; D008297:Male; D013564:Sympathetic Nervous System / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D045930:Anabolic Agents