Left ventricular wall thickening does occur with or without anabolic steroid Use

[Narkissos]

Left ventricular wall thickening does occur in elite power athletes with or without anabolic steroid Use.


Dickerman RD, Schaller F, McConathy WJ.

Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of North Texas Health Science Center, Fort Worth, Tex., USA.

Reports on the occurrence of left ventricular wall thickening in resistance-trained athletes have rejected the possibility for this physiological adaptation to occur without concomitant anabolic steroid abuse. Others have concluded short bursts of arterial hypertension that occur with maximal weight lifting are not sufficient to induce left ventricular wall thickening, and left ventricular wall thickness >/=13 mm should not be found in pure resistance-trained athletes. Therefore, we examined 4 elite resistance-trained athletes by two-dimensional echocardiography. In addition, we retrospectively examined the individual left ventricular dimensions of 13 bodybuilders from our previous echocardiographic studies. All 4 elite resistance-trained athletes had left ventricular wall thicknesses beyond 13 mm. One of the elite bodybuilders has the largest left ventricular wall thickness (16 mm) ever reported in a power athlete. Retrospectively, 43% of the drug-free bodybuilders and 100% of the steroid users had left ventricular wall thickness beyond the normal range of 11 mm. In addition, 1 drug-free subject and 3 steroid users were beyond the critical mark of 13 mm. No subjects demonstrated diastolic dysfunction. In contrast to previous reports, we have demonstrated that left ventricular wall thicknesses >/=13 mm can be found routinely in elite resistance-trained athletes. The use of anabolic steroids concomitant with intensive resistance exercise does appear to augment left ventricular size without dysfunction. Anabolic steroids may accelerate left ventricular wall thickening indirectly by increasing strength, thus augmenting the pressor response.

PMID: 9778553 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

[BBAddict]

That's interesting to hear! I have a thickened left ventricular wall, but my doc thought it may have been due to a period of time that I had high blood pressure. I have not ever done steroids but definitely do a lot of resistance training!

[shortz]

That's interesting to hear! I have a thickened left ventricular wall, but my doc thought it may have been due to a period of time that I had high blood pressure. I have not ever done steroids but definitely do a lot of resistance training!

This is still very possible. It really depends on how long your BP was up for and what the actual ECG looked like. Sometimes there is other evidence that can indicate one sided hypertrophy.

[BBAddict]

This is still very possible. It really depends on how long your BP was up for and what the actual ECG looked like. Sometimes there is other evidence that can indicate one sided hypertrophy.

BP was high for a little over a year. I know they were doing an imaging technique to look at the heart cause I have had some heart issues and because I had or have an arrhythmia.

[spidey]

That is from Liftiron over at IT from a discussion between he and I about whether AAS contributes to pathological thickening of the left ventricle.

I was planning on doing a more thorough PUBMED search on the subject but just didn't have time and the discussion sort of got shelved.

Sure, it can happen without AAS. Just like skeletal muscle can grow without exogenous AAS. Also like skeletal muscle, heart muscle will grow faster and larger (thicker) WITH AAS. Cardiac muscle does have androgen receptors afterall. It is common sense really.

[BBAddict]

Sure, it can happen without AAS. Just like skeletal muscle can grow without exogenous AAS. Also like skeletal muscle, heart muscle will grow faster and larger (thicker) WITH AAS. Cardiac muscle does have androgen receptors afterall. It is common sense really.

I understand general enlargement or strengthening of the heart, but why would the left ventricular wall be more susceptible to thickening than the arterial or right ventricular walls?

[Bouncer]

I understand general enlargement or strengthening of the heart, but why would the left ventricular wall be more susceptible to thickening than the arterial or right ventricular walls?

I would also like to know this.

[spidey]

Aaah, it's elemental my dear BBadict. The left ventrical is the part of your heart that does most of the work in pumping blood. It is exercised more than the right ventrical or atriums (atria?). A common cause of left ventricular hypertrophy outside of AAS use is chronic high blood pressure. Endurance athletes have thicker left ventricals than do sedentary people but that is not considered pathological (dangerous) and it is not usually concentric in atletes. Concentric thickening results in less room inside the ventrical itself and a decrease in the ejection fraction. This is the dangerous kind.

[Bouncer]

Aaah, it's elemental my dear BBadict. The left ventrical is the part of your heart that does most of the work in pumping blood. It is exercised more than the right ventrical or atriums (atria?). A common cause of left ventricular hypertrophy outside of AAS use is chronic high blood pressure. Endurance athletes have thicker left ventricals than do sedentary people but that is not considered pathological (dangerous) and it is not usually concentric in atletes. Concentric thickening results in less room inside the ventrical itself and a decrease in the ejection fraction. This is the dangerous kind.

Anything we can do or take to prevent this?

[spidey]

I don't think so. It comes with the territory. The harder your heart has to work to pump blood, the thicker the left ventrical will get. AAS should logically speed up that process due to androgen receptors in the cardiac muscle.

Fortunately, I have not been able to find too many cases where severe and pathological thickening of the LV could be directly attributed to AAS use (abuse). There are nearly always other mitigating factors like a history of high blood pressure or cardiac disease. I have seen a couple cases though in the literature that support a link between AAS use and pathological thickening of the LV.

I think, for me anyway, the take home story is "moderation". Too much of anything is bad for you and steroids are the poster child of that philosophy. I don't think I am risking my long term health too much by doing one or two low dose cycles a year but I think some of the heavy cycles I routinely see posted are probably much more risky. IMO, unless you are competing, no one needs grams of gear a week. If they need that much to grow, something else is out of whack like their diet or training regimen and they may be hurting their bodies more than they are helping.

[BBAddict]

I'll give you a referral point for this good info!!

[shortz]

Damnit, I go out to eat and come back to see Spidey beat me to it. Very good reply Spidey. More rep to ya!!

Just for referance, there is what's called axis deviation. This shows on the ECG and depending on what side the axis is deviated on, it will tell what side the hypertrophy is on. It's basicly the heart tilting a little off it's original axis. This is caused by the heart trying to pump more/harder on that side. It's is an indication that a wall making it tighter for blood to get through.

[Narkissos]

Jeez...when i was hangin in the forum..there were no members here to bump heads with...i disappear and the thread has 11 responses.

[INTIMID8OR]

Jeez...when i was hangin in the forum..there were no members here to bump heads with...i disappear and the thread has 11 responses.

we're like a bunch of cockroaches ....good post .. :D

[Mr I]

has the condition ever been directly linked to cardiac arrest/failure?