For the love of muscles: a bodybuilder with complicated left ventricular heart failure

Abstract

Anabolic-androgenic steroid misuse is associated with cardiovascular toxicity. We report a unique case of a 46-year-old male bodybuilder with nonischemic systolic heart failure complicated with a large left ventricular thrombus and multiple emboli presumably caused by long-term abuse of anabolic steroids. The patient experienced almost full recovery after cessation of anabolic steroid use, initiation of oral anticoagulation and guideline-directed heart failure medical therapy. This case illustrates the importance of early recognition and appropriate medical management of anabolic-androgenic steroid induced cardiomyopathy.

Keywords:

• Anabolic-androgenic steroids
• cardiomyopathy
• left ventricular thrombus

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).