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Doping in Sports: Biochemical Principles, Effects and Analysis pp 459–484Cite as

Side Effects of Anabolic Androgenic Steroids: Pathological Findings and Structure–Activity Relationships

Part of the Handbook of Experimental Pharmacology book series (HEP,volume 195)

Abstract

Side effects of anabolic steroids with relevance in forensic medicine are mainly due to life-threatening health risks with potential fatal outcome and cases of uncertain limitations of criminal liability after steroid administration. Both problems are typically associated with long-term abuse and excessive overdose of anabolic steroids. Side effects may be due to direct genomic or nongenomic activities (myotrophic, hepatotoxic), can result from down-regulation of endogenous biosynthesis (antiandrogenic) or be indirect consequence of steroid biotransformation (estrogenic).

Logically, there are no systematic clinical studies available and the number of causally determined fatalities is fairly limited. The following compilation reviews typical abundant observations in cases where nonnatural deaths (mostly liver failure and sudden cardiac death) were concurrent with steroid abuse. Moreover, frequent associations between structural characteristics and typical side effects are summarized.

Keywords

  • Side effects
  • Heart
  • Liver
  • Arteriosclerosis
  • Psychiatry

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Legal Medicine, St.-Georg-Str. 108, 18055, Rostock, Germany

    Andreas Büttner

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  1. Andreas Büttner
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  2. Detlef Thieme
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  1. Sportbiochemie Dresden, Institut für Dopinganalytik und, Dresdner Straße 12, Kreischa, 01731, Germany

    Detlef Thieme

  2. Gamle Trondheimsvei 39, Hagan, 1481, Norway

    Peter Hemmersbach

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Büttner, A., Thieme, D. (2010). Side Effects of Anabolic Androgenic Steroids: Pathological Findings and Structure–Activity Relationships. In: Thieme, D., Hemmersbach, P. (eds) Doping in Sports: Biochemical Principles, Effects and Analysis. Handbook of Experimental Pharmacology, vol 195. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-540-79088-4_19

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