Anabolic steroid use as the possible precipitant of dilated cardiomyopathy

Anabolic-androgenic steroid (AAS) use is common among young males, including adolescents. There have been several anecdotal reports of severe cardiovascular events in self-reported young users of AAS, including acute myocardial infarction, sudden cardiac death, and cardiomyopathy. We present an additional case of a young male weight lifter who presented with dyspnea and chest pain attributable to dilated cardiomyopathy (DC), his only known risk factor being the recent use of AAS. The possible role of AAS in the development of DC is discussed.