Cytotoxicity of oxymetholone to endothelial cells in vitro

Arch Pathol Lab Med. 1980 Aug;104(8):405-8.

Cytotoxicity of oxymetholone to endothelial cells in vitro.

Kosek JC, Smith DL.

Morphologic and chromium release studies demonstrated degeneration in monolayer
cultures of endothelial cells exposed to the anabolic steroidal hormone
oxymetholone. The concentrations approximated those occurring transiently in the
hepatic sinusoidal blood after oral administration of the drug during treatment
for aplastic anemia. It is suggested that damage to sinusoidal endothelium, with
impairment of its ability to maintain sinusoidal collagenous reticulin, is a
mechanism by which oxymetholone can cause peliosis hepatis in these patients.