Anabolic androgenic steroid-induced cardiomyopathy, stroke and peripheral vascular disease

Abstract

Acute stroke could be the presentation of unrecognised cardiomyopathy postanabolic androgenic steroid (AAS) abuse. A 39-year-old male patient displayed signs of acute stroke, which were associated with AAS abuse over the last 3 years. Despite the absence of symptoms and signs of congestive heart failure at presentation, AAS-induced cardiomyopathy with a thrombus in the left ventricle was discovered to be the aetiology of his stroke and peripheral vascular disease. Awareness of the complications of AAS led to the prompt treatment of the initially unrecognised dilated cardiomyopathy, and stroke.