Background: The side effects of abusing anabolic steroids in cardiovascular system, hepatobiliary system and endocrinal system exceed the benefits of using them for bodybuilder. Our research was directed to assess the toxic effects of anabolic androgenic steroids on cardiac muscles in male athletes.
Methods: The research was conducted on: Group (A) as a control (46 athletes)., Group (B) Athletes taking (Testosterone Undecanoate) low dose 250 mg/ml (23 athletes) (C) Athletes taking (Testosterone Undecanoate) high dose 500 mg/ml (23 athletes). Heart rate calculated manually and confirmed from resting ECG, QT interval measured from the beginning of the QRS complex to the end of the T wave and averaged over 3 to 5 beats and QT corrected measured. Ambulatory blood pressure monitoring allows blood pressure (BP) readings to be recorded over a 24-hour period giving the day and neigh SBP and DBP. Transthoracic echocardiography was performed.
Results: there was a significant elevation in serum cholesterol, triglycerides and LDL levels. There was a significant decrease in serum HDL levels. There were statistically significant differences regarding the day and night blood pressure. Also, there was a statistically significant difference regarding heart rate, QTc, the ejection fraction and left ventricular mass index. Conclusions: All these side effects confirm that abusing of anabolic steroids not only have adverse effects but also have life-threatening effect on heart, testes, and pituitary.