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Steroids and Right Ventricular Function
Left ventricular dysfunction is a commonly discussed side effect of anabolic/androgenic steroid abuse. Indeed, there is substantial data demonstrating that a thickening of the left ventricular wall and reduced systolic and diastolic myocardial function can be closely linked to the use duration and average weekly dosage during long-term steroid abuse. While these possible side effects may not be alarming in an acute (short-term) sense, even the most reasonable physicians would agree that they should be taken seriously if steroid abuse is a long-term (lifestyle) choice.
Adding to this concern is a study that was just published in the International Journal of Cardiology. It focused not only on the commonly examined issue of left ventricular function, but also of right ventricular health. The physicians set out to examine this facet of steroid use by comparing the level of cardiac function in steroid abusers to a group of non-abusing controls. The investigators noticed that diastolic velocity was reduced in both the left and right ventricles of the steroid abusers. It was the first to report such detailed findings, which further caution steroid users about the potential negative cardiovascular health implications of long-term steroid abuse.
Left ventricular dysfunction is a commonly discussed side effect of anabolic/androgenic steroid abuse. Indeed, there is substantial data demonstrating that a thickening of the left ventricular wall and reduced systolic and diastolic myocardial function can be closely linked to the use duration and average weekly dosage during long-term steroid abuse. While these possible side effects may not be alarming in an acute (short-term) sense, even the most reasonable physicians would agree that they should be taken seriously if steroid abuse is a long-term (lifestyle) choice.
Adding to this concern is a study that was just published in the International Journal of Cardiology. It focused not only on the commonly examined issue of left ventricular function, but also of right ventricular health. The physicians set out to examine this facet of steroid use by comparing the level of cardiac function in steroid abusers to a group of non-abusing controls. The investigators noticed that diastolic velocity was reduced in both the left and right ventricles of the steroid abusers. It was the first to report such detailed findings, which further caution steroid users about the potential negative cardiovascular health implications of long-term steroid abuse.
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