Peliosis hepatis in a young adult bodybuilder

Peliosis hepatis, an unusual condition characterized by blood-filled spaces within the hepatic parenchyma, usually occurs in a variety of chronic wasting diseases such as tuberculosis or malignancy. It has been described in patients undergoing therapy with anabolic steroids in pharmacologic doses over extended periods of time. To our knowledge it has not been described in athletes who utilize them for performance enhancement. This report concerns a 27-yr-old bodybuilder with peliosis hepatis, which developed after chronic intermittent use of anabolic steroids.