Publications

Abstract

Background: Although the illicit use of synthetic androgens is common amongst amatuer body-builders in Australia, the toxicology of these drugs is largely limited to case reports while the health effects are not well understood. Furthermore, combined use with off-label prescription drugs carries undefined medical risks.Method: We describe a 35-year-old male amateur body-builder who developed acute hepatitis with accompanying fever.Results: This phenomenon occured several weeks after he commenced high-dose methandrostenolone, a non-marketed 17-alpha-alkylated synthetic androgen available over the internet or in gyms, in combination with anti-oestrogen drugs to purportedly prevent gynaecomastia and diuretics to lower body weight prior to a body-building competition.Conclusion: In the absence of infection, this is the first reported case of acute hepatitis occuring in association with fever secondary to the use of a 17-alpha-alkylated androgen. This case also serves to increase public, physician and health authority awareness of this prevalent form of drug abuse and toxicity.