Man's secret use of synthetic testosterone for cows nearly destroyed his heart
Summary
A Massachusetts man had repeated episodes of severe heart, kidney, and other health problems over 11 years while secretly using anabolic steroids, including a synthetic testosterone drug approved for use in cattle. His case highlights the serious, potentially long-lasting health effects of steroid use and the difficulty doctors can face when patients do not disclose it.Key Facts
- The man first became seriously ill at age 39 after returning from a trip to the Caribbean.
- His heart’s left chamber pumped out 21 percent of its blood per beat; doctors placed him on ECMO life support.
- His heart function returned to normal within days, but doctors did not identify the cause.
- Two years later, he had abdominal and leg pain, kidney cell damage, narrowed kidney arteries, and signs of blood-vessel inflammation.
- He saw specialists in several fields over the following years.
- At about age 46, he reported fatigue and had a low testosterone level.
- One drug he used was a synthetic testosterone derivative approved only for animal use, primarily to increase cattle’s weight.
- An estimated 2.9 million to 4 million people in the United States use anabolic-androgenic steroids.
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