Use, Misuse and Abuse of Testosterone and Other Androgens.

INTRODUCTION: For several decades, testosterone and its synthetic derivatives have been used for anabolic and androgenic purposes. Initially restricted to professional bodybuilders, these substances gradually became more popular with recreational weightlifters. Considering its increasing prevalence, the consumption of anabolic androgenic steroids (AAS) has become a matter of great concern. Although most side effects are mild and reversible, some of them can cause permanent damage or can be potentially life threatening. OBJECTIVES: To review and summarize medical literature regarding misuse and abuse of testosterone and other androgens, in order to provide evidence-based information on the main topics related to this subject, such as how to identify and how to deal with these patients, and to elucidate the multiple possible adverse effects secondary to this practice. METHODS: Key studies were retrieved from PubMed (1989-2021) with reference searches from relevant articles. Search terms included "hypogonadism", "anabolic androgenic steroids", "androgens", "misuse AND testosterone", "abuse AND testosterone", and "side effects AND testosterone". RESULTS: There is a significant lack of information in the peer-reviewed literature describing demographic data, implications for different organ systems and the management of current or former AAS users; however, androgen abuse has been already linked to a wide variety of cardiovascular diseases, metabolic, endocrine, neurological, psychiatric and liver disorders. Despite all this, most physicians still feel uncomfortable and hesitate to discuss the issue with patients. CONCLUSIONS: The chronic use of high doses of AAS is associated with adverse effects in several organ systems; however, there are still many gaps in our knowledge about the long-term consequences of this practice and how to deal with these patients. Healthcare professionals have a crucial role in combating this public health problem, recognizing and preventing the spread of androgen abuse. Linhares BL, Miranda EP, Cintra AR, et al. Use, Misuse and Abuse of Testosterone and Other Androgens. Sex Med Rev 2022;10:583-595.

Use, Misuse and Abuse of Testosterone and Other Androgens.

INTRODUCTION: For several decades, testosterone and its synthetic derivatives have been used for anabolic and androgenic purposes. Initially restricted to professional bodybuilders, these substances gradually became more popular with recreational weightlifters. Considering its increasing prevalence, the consumption of anabolic androgenic steroids (AAS) has become a matter of great concern. Although most side effects are mild and reversible, some of them can cause permanent damage or can be potentially life threatening. OBJECTIVES: To review and summarize medical literature regarding misuse and abuse of testosterone and other androgens, in order to provide evidence-based information on the main topics related to this subject, such as how to identify and how to deal with these patients, and to elucidate the multiple possible adverse effects secondary to this practice. METHODS: Key studies were retrieved from PubMed (1989-2021) with reference searches from relevant articles. Search terms included "hypogonadism", "anabolic androgenic steroids", "androgens", "misuse AND testosterone", "abuse AND testosterone", and "side effects AND testosterone". RESULTS: There is a significant lack of information in the peer-reviewed literature describing demographic data, implications for different organ systems and the management of current or former AAS users; however, androgen abuse has been already linked to a wide variety of cardiovascular diseases, metabolic, endocrine, neurological, psychiatric and liver disorders. Despite all this, most physicians still feel uncomfortable and hesitate to discuss the issue with patients. CONCLUSIONS: The chronic use of high doses of AAS is associated with adverse effects in several organ systems; however, there are still many gaps in our knowledge about the long-term consequences of this practice and how to deal with these patients. Healthcare professionals have a crucial role in combating this public health problem, recognizing and preventing the spread of androgen abuse.

Mediastinal nonleukemic granulocytic sarcoma with cardiac infiltration / Sarcoma granulocítico mediastinal não associado à leucemia com infiltração cardíaca

We report on a case of mediastinal granulocytic sarcoma with cardiac infiltration in a young man with no evidence of leukemia involving the bone marrow or peripheral blood. Diagnosis was accomplished by immuno-histochemistry with expressions of myeloperoxidase and CD99 antigens. The patient achieved clinical remission, but evolved with febrile neutropenia during chemotherapy and died. Although subclinical cardiac infiltrations are commonly found at autopsy in patients with acute non-lymphoblastic leukemia, only one case of involvement of the heart with granulocytic sarcoma in the absence of bone marrow disease has been published in the literature. A diagnosis of granulocytic sarcoma should not be excluded when the biopsy of the bone marrow does not show any evidence of leukemic infiltration.

Relata-se o caso de um adulto jovem com sarcoma granulocítico (SG) mediastinal com infiltração cardíaca sem evidência de leucemia envolvendo medula óssea ou sangue periférico. O diagnóstico foi revelado pela imuno-histoquímica com positividade para mieloperoxidase e CD99. O paciente apresentou remissão clínica, porém evoluiu com neutropenia febril durante a quimioterapia e foi a óbito. Embora infiltrados cardíacos subclínicos sejam comumente detectados na autópsia em pacientes com leucemia aguda nãolinfoblástica, somente um caso de SG com envolvimento cardíaco na ausência de doença na medula óssea foi descrito na literatura. Um diagnóstico de SG não deve ser excluída quando a biópsia da medula óssea não mostrar nenhuma evidência de infiltração leucêmica.