Sudden cardiac arrest following ventricular fibrillation attributed to anabolic steroid use in an adolescent

Abstract

Anabolic androgenic steroids are synthetic derivatives of testosterone that promote the growth of skeletal muscles and have many recognised cardiovascular effects. We report the clinical presentation and pathological findings of an adolescent male whose sudden cardiac arrest following ventricular fibrillation was attributed to anabolic androgenic steroid use. The age of our patient reflects the usage of anabolic androgenic steroids among younger athletes and highlights the need for increased awareness among practitioners.

Keywords: Anabolic androgenic steroids; cardiac arrest; hypertrophic cardiomyopathy; ventricular fibrillation.