Disorder of hypothalamic–pituitary–gonadal axis induced by abusing of anabolic–androgenic steroids for short time: A case report

• Published in: Andrologia Vol. 50; no. 9; pp. e13107 - n/a
• Main Authors: Vilar Neto, José de Oliveira, da Silva, Carlos Alberto, Lima, Antônio Barroso, Caminha, Juan de Sá Roriz, Pinto, Daniel Vieira, Alves, Felipe Rocha, Araújo, Jocasta Sousa, Daher, Elizabeth de Francesco
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Germany John Wiley & Sons, Inc 01.11.2018
• Subjects: AAS; Abuse; Anabolic Agents - administration & dosage; Anabolic Agents - adverse effects; bodybuilding; Case reports; drug abuse; endocrinology; Follicle Stimulating Hormone - blood; Hormones; HPG axis; Humans; Hypothalamus; Luteinizing Hormone - blood; Male; Pituitary; Pituitary Diseases - blood; Pituitary Diseases - chemically induced; Serum levels; Steroid hormones; Testicular Diseases - blood; Testicular Diseases - chemically induced; Testosterone; Testosterone - blood; Testosterone Congeners - administration & dosage; Testosterone Congeners - adverse effects; Young Adult; HPG axis; AAS; drug abuse; bodybuilding; endocrinology
• ISSN: 0303-4569; 1439-0272; 1439-0272
• DOI: 10.1111/and.13107

The aim of this study was to evaluate the hypothalamic–pituitary–gonadal axis functionality on a bodybuilding competitioner before, during and after the use of anabolic–androgenic steroids. A young healthy man was followed up for 4 months. The subject reported his drug administration protocol through periodic interviews and performed laboratory tests to monitor the function of his hypothalamic–pituitary–gonadal axis. Time 1 (before the steroids use) shows all hormones levels (follicle‐stimulating hormone = 4,2 mUI/ml, luteinising hormone = 3,7 mUI/ml and total testosterone = 5,7 ng/ml) within reference values. In Time 2, after 8 weeks on steroids abuse, a complete hypothalamic–pituitary–gonadal axis derangement is evident with noticeable negative feedback (follicle‐stimulating hormone = 1,47 mUI/ml, luteinising hormone = 0,1 mUI/ml and total testosterone = 1,47 ng/ml). At the third moment (40 days after Time 2), we can see a tendency to recovery, however, the serum levels of the investigated hormones were still considerably lower than the baseline values. At the end, we could conclude that the use of anabolic–androgenic steroids, at supraphysiological dosages, even for a short time (8 weeks), causes severe disorder in the hypothalamic–pituitary–gonadal axis. The endogenous testosterone synthesis was severely compromised by important decline in serum luteinising hormone levels.