Ischemic stroke related to anabolic abuse.

Clin Neuropharmacol. 2008 Mar-Apr;31(2):80-5.

Ischemic stroke related to anabolic abuse.

Santamarina RD, Besocke AG, Romano LM, Ioli PL, Gonorazky SE.

Neurology Department, Hospital Privado de Comunidad, Mar del Plata, Argentina.
rsantamarina@sna.org.ar.

Anabolic-androgenic steroid (AAS) abuse increased in recent years, and it is
associated with numerous adverse effects. Few reports on ischemic stroke related
to anabolic steroid abuse have been published. We report a case of a 26-year-old
male amateur athlete who suffered a posterior territory ischemic stroke. No
abnormalities were found in angiography and echocardiography studies, neither in
hemostatic profile. His only significant risk factor was nonmedical use of
stanozolol, an anabolic steroid. Anabolic steroids are capable of increasing
vascular tone, arterial tension, and platelet aggregation; therefore, they are
prone to produce atherothrombotic phenomena. Because of young people's widespread
use of anabolic steroids, physicians should be aware of this kind of
complication.