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Anabolic Androgenic Steroid Abuse and Cerebral Venous Thrombosis—A Case Report

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Published Online: Dec 22nd 2020 US Neurology. 2020;16(2):120–2 DOI: https://doi.org/10.17925/USN.2020.16.2.120
Authors: Marlene Saraiva, João Pedro Marto, Ana Sofia Correia, Miguel Viana Baptista
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Abstract
Article
Article Information
Abstract:
Overview

There are a small number of published cases of cerebral venous thrombosis (CVT) associated with anabolic androgenic steroids (AASs). We present the case of a 27-year-old man who was admitted to the emergency room with a severe holocranial headache, nausea, vomiting, photophobia, and diplopia. He had no relevant past medical history, but he had been taking anabolic steroids for 1 year. The examination revealed papilledema and bilateral sixth nerve palsy. The computed tomography venography documented thrombosis of the left transverse and sigmoid sinuses. The patient was started on anticoagulant therapy with gradual improvement. The workup ruled out other causes of CVT. Despite the uncertainty about the exact mechanism by which AASs promote thrombosis, our case supports the conviction that high-dose and long-lasting AAS use should be considered a possible cause of CVT. Accordingly, it is of utmost importance to inquire about AAS use in case of suspected CVT.

Keywords

Anabolic androgenic steroids, cerebral venous thrombosis, steroid abuse

Article:

Cerebral venous thrombosis (CVT) is a rare condition.1–3 While thrombophilias, contraceptive pill, hormonal replacement therapy, and neoplasms are well-established predisposing factors, steroid use is a less-common possible risk factor, particularly with regard to anabolic androgenic steroids (AAS).1–4

We intend to describe what is known about AAS and present a case of CVT associated with AAS use in a young patient.

Case presentation

A 27-year-old man was admitted with a severe holocranial headache, nausea, vomiting, photophobia, and diplopia, which had begun 3 days before. He had no relevant past medical antecedent, no previous migrainous headache, nor any pertinent family history of hypercoagulability. However, he had been taking AASs for 1 year to increase muscle mass (intramuscular testosterone weekly, in addition to 400 mg of oxymetholone and 300 mg of nandrolone daily). On examination he had papilledema and bilateral sixth nerve palsy. Blood tests revealed thrombocytosis with 263,000 platelets/mm3 without other alterations on hemogram like polycythemia. Computed tomography venography documented thrombosis of the left transverse and sigmoid sinuses (Figures 1 and 2). The workup ruled out other causes of CVT, such as hereditary thrombophilia, infection, or neoplasia. Autoimmune diseases and vasculitis syndromes were ruled out by appropriate investigations (e.g., screening for antinuclear antibodies [ANA], antiphospholipid antibodies [APLA], antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies [ANCA], cytoplasmic and perinuclear ANCA [cANCA and pANCA]). Vitamin B12, folic acid, and serum homocysteine levels were normal.

The patient was started on anticoagulant therapy with enoxaparin 1 mg/kg every 12 hours. A combination of analgesics and acetazolamide were introduced because of refractory headache. The follow-up magnetic resonance imaging, performed 6 months later, showed resolution of thrombosis.

Discussion

There are two main types of steroids, namely corticosteroids and AASs; the latter carrying a greater risk of thrombosis. Since their synthesis in 1935, AASs began to be widely consumed: firstly, by the elite athletes to improve their sports performance, and then by the general population, especially the younger, with the purpose of increasing muscle mass as well as a recreational drug, disregarding their harmful effects.5–6 In fact, AASs are synthetic derivatives of testosterone with a strong anabolic effect and only residual androgenic action.7 For that reason, they are used to treat several medical conditions, namely many forms of anemia, especially aplastic anemia; acute and chronic wounds; renal failure (in combination with recombinant human erythropoietin); protein-calorie malnutrition with associated weight loss, such as HIV-associated wasting syndrome; and cancer-associated cachexia. AASs approved by the US Food and Drug Administration, and their respective common dosages, are listed in Table 1.

Notwithstanding their benefits, the chronic use or abuse of AASs can cause several pathologic alterations, including hepatic, cardiovascular, reproductive, musculoskeletal, endocrine, renal, immunologic, and hematologic dysfunction, as well as psychological and psychiatric effects. Indeed, sudden cardiac death, suicide, and violent deaths have been reported to be more frequent than in the population in general in individuals with a history of long-term AAS use.8–16

From the neurological point of view, some CVT cases have been reported in the last decade among AAS consumers, and there are probably many non-diagnosed cases due to the illegality of its use. AAS-associated CVT cases published until now are listed in Table 2, highlighting the type of AAS consumed, duration of use, and outcome of CVT.17–22 The exact mechanism by which AASs cause CVT is unknown; however, the existing evidence suggests that they promote fluctuations on the hemostatic system from an antithrombotic to a prothrombotic state. Additionally, in vitro experiences have shown that AASs can favor platelet agreggation.1–3,19

Despite the small number of published cases and the uncertainty about the exact mechanism by which AASs promote thrombosis, the fact that the patient had no medical relevant antecedents or risk factors, associated with the complete recovery after therapy, supports the conviction that high-dose and long-lasting AAS use should be considered a possible cause of CVT. Accordingly, it is very important to inquire about AAS use in cases of suspected CVT.

 

Minor post-publication correction: Compliance with ethics statement updated

Article Information:
Disclosure

Marlene Saraiva, João Pedro Marto, Ana Sofia Correia, and Miguel Viana Baptista have no financial or non-financial relationships or activities to declare in relation to this article.

Compliance With Ethics

All procedures were followed in accordance with the responsible committee on human experimentation and with the Helsinki Declaration of 1975, and subsequent revisions. Informed consent was received from the patient involved in this case study.

Review Process

Double-blind peer review.

Authorship

The named authors meet the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE) criteria for authorship of this manuscript, take responsibility for the integrity of the work as a whole, and have given final approval for the version to be published.

Correspondence

Marlene Saraiva, Department of Neurology, Egas Moniz Hospital, Rua da Junqueira 126, 1349–019 Lisbon, Portugal. E: marlenesaraiva_@hotmail.com

Support

No funding was received in the publication of this article.

Access

This article is freely accessible at touchNEUROLOGY.com © Touch Medical Media 2020.

Received

2020-05-08

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