The cost of seeking an edge: Recurrent renal infarction in setting of recreational use of anabolic steroids

Abstract

Introduction

Anabolic-androgenic steroid (AAS) use and testosterone therapy have been well established risk factors for the creation of a pro-thrombotic state, and to precipitate formation of thromboemboli in individuals already predisposed to thrombosis.

Case report

Here, we present the case of an amateur bodybuilder, with a negative thrombophilia workup, who experienced primary renal infarction while using the AAS trenbolone acetate and testosterone, as well as a subsequent renal infarction while anticoagulated with apixaban.

Discussion

The development of subsequent infarctions in an anticoagulated patient with discontinued recreational steroid use poses a unique situation and challenges the current understanding of a thrombophilic state associated with steroids. The lifetime prevalence of anabolic steroid use is estimated to be 1% in the male population in the United States which is significant.

Conclusion

Further understanding and recommendations of appropriate anticoagulant should be further elucidated to appropriately medically manage patients from this confounding social and medical history.

Highlights

• •Consideration of earlier CT study with contrast.
• •Thorough history taking including gym supplements.
• •The use of NOACs.
• •The need for further understanding of how anabolic steroids affect coagulation.
• •Educating patients using anabolic steroids regarding the risks of continued use.

1. Introduction

Recreational anabolic-androgenic steroid (AAS) use have been highlighted in media with the overwhelming use in professional and amateur bodybuilders. Muscular hypertrophy proceeds with the desired effects, however, multiple medical side effects ensue – impotence, severe acne, gynecomastia, atrophy of testicles, increased agitation, liver and kidney dysfunction. One of the side effects includes coagulopathy from a multifactorial pathophysiology. In a multifactorial proposed mechanism, AAS induce thrombosis through increased platelet activity, increased production of coagulation factors, increased LDL and decreased HDL cholesterol, and increased inflammation as measured by C-reactive protein [1], [2]. Furthermore, testosterone therapy has been shown to promote a state of increased viscosity due to similar effects on HDL cholesterol metabolism and increases in hematocrit [3].

2. Case report

A 43-year-old male with a past medical history of obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) and prior appendectomy presented to the emergency department reporting 2 days of left flank pain described as severe, sudden onset, sharp, constant, and without radiation. At the time of presentation, he denied fever, chills, dysuria, hematuria, change in urinary frequency, or changes in his bowel movements. He worked as a financial advisor and his only reported medication was escitalopram 20mg. During initial evaluation, he had an abdominal exam which revealed a soft and non-tender abdomen, no guarding or rebound elicited, no discoloration, no costovertebral angle tenderness, and no genitourinary abnormality. Urine analysis was unremarkable and urine electrolytes were not ordered. Blood work displayed a hemoglobin of 17.4 gm/dL, hematocrit of 49.5%, platelets of 186 K/μL, and creatinine of 1.7mg/dL (baseline <1.2mg/dL). A non-contrast CT was performed, which revealed no change in the renal parenchyma, and no evidence of nephrolithiasis. The patient was hemodynamically stable overnight with no signs of infection, and was sent home with opioid analgesics. His acute kidney injury was attributed to poor hydration in the setting of pain. The documentation did not reveal what the likely cause of the pain was.

The following day, the patient returned to the emergency department due to non-resolution of his pain. No changes in urination were mentioned. He underwent a contrast CT, which indicated a new, wedge-shaped hypodensity in the superolateral pole of the left kidney, measuring 5.2 × 2.5cm with adjacent fat stranding (Fig. 1). Additionally, the anterior segmental branch of the left renal artery demonstrated dilatation to 7mm with severe luminal narrowing due to occlusion by hypodense material. Serum creatinine was measured to be 1.7mg/dL again. At this time, the patient was diagnosed with left renal parenchymal infarct and acute kidney injury (AKI). He was admitted and started on a continuous heparin drip for anticoagulation.

Fig. 1.

Computed tomography scan of the abdomen with contrast indicating a new, wedge-shaped hypodensity in the superolateral pole of the left kidney (see arrow). Measuring 5.2 cm × 2.5 cm.

Further work-up during that hospitalization included a transthoracic echocardiogram, which showed no evidence of thrombus or vegetations as potential etiologies for embolization. Extensive hypercoagulable workup was ordered: Factor II mutation - normal; Antithrombin III deficiency - 96% activity (normal 80–120); Factor V Leiden - normal; Cryoglobulin - none detected, ANA - negative; Lupus Anticoagulant – none detected; Anti-Cardiolipin IgG <14 (negative is < 14); Anti-Cardiolipin IgM < 12 (negative <12); Total Complement – 56U/mL (31–60); Complement C4 - 22mg/dL (12–38); Complement C3 – 78.2mg/dL (59–152); Homocysteine levels 8 μmol/L (normal 5–16). Normal ranges are mentioned above in parentheses. None of these disorders were detected. A lipid panel revealed a total cholesterol of 126mg/dL, LDL 65.8mg/dL, VLDL 15mg/dL, HDL 45mg/dL, and triglycerides of 76mg/dL. CRP was 3.57mg/L.

Upon further questioning, the patient revealed that he had been using both testosterone and the injectable anabolic steroid, trenbolone acetate, intermittently over a period of 5 years, with last use 2 weeks prior to initial admission. Consistent with anabolic steroid use, his testosterone level was 14ng/dL, DHEA-S 124 mg/dL, 17b estradiol <20 pg/mL.

As the patient's renal function and flank pain showed consistent improvement, the patient was started on apixaban and discharged home on hospital day 3.

Four days post discharge, this patient presented again to the emergency department with recurrence of severe left flank pain radiating to the left lower quadrant and groin with associated nausea. The patient again denied gross hematuria, dysuria, fever, or chills. Follow-up CT with contrast was ordered, at which time a new renal infarct was detected at the inferior pole of the left kidney (Fig. 2). The patient was again placed on a continuous heparin drip for anticoagulation. Doppler imaging revealed <60% stenosis of left renal artery with reduced flow to the superior pole. The renal vein was patent. Follow-up radioisotope renography (MAG3 scan) estimated differential renal function of 33% on the left and 67% on the right (Fig. 3). A urine drug screen was negative for all substances except opiates, which he had been prescribed.

Fig. 2.

Computed tomography scan of the abdomen with contrast revealed a new area of infarction at the inferior pole of the left kidney (indicated by the arrow).

Fig. 3.

Radioisotope renography (MAG3 scan) revealed significant decreased in renal function of 33% on the left and 67% on the right. The time activity curves (indicated by the stars) reveal normal, brisk uptake and washout activity from the right kidney but are visibly reduced for the left kidney. The purple line represents the right kidney and the turquoise dashed line represents the left kidney.

The patient experienced gradual improvement in pain and renal function. On hospital day 3, enoxaparin was started as a bridge to therapeutic INR on warfarin. He was discharged on hospital day 4, following stabilization of creatinine (∼1.3mg/dL) and acceptable pain control. Extensive counseling was provided regarding the risk of devastating thromboembolic events with continued use of anabolic steroids.

3. Discussion

The lifetime prevalence of anabolic steroid use is estimated to be 1% in the male population in the United States [4]. The breadth of complications from these agents, as well as the treatment algorithms for managing complications, are not well characterized. In this case, we cared for a 43 year old male with no predisposing pro-coagulable conditions who had been chronically using anabolic steroids, trenbelone acetate and testosterone, for recreational body building purposes. He subsequently experienced 2 renal infarcts, the second of which occurred while on anticoagulation with apixaban. As this patient's anabolic steroid use was not discovered until his second hospitalization, the diagnosis of renal infarction was delayed until day 4 of flank pain.

There has been one recent case of renal infarct secondary to anabolic steroid use in which diagnosis was delayed due to non-disclosure of this key aspect of the patient's history, and another in which a young male taking trenbolone acetate (the same anabolic agent our patient used) was not diagnosed with myocardial infarction until 3 days after initial presentation with epigastric pain [5], [6]. These occurrences, with delayed diagnoses, highlight the importance of asking all patients, especially young, athletic men, about workout supplements as well as anabolic steroid use at both preventive visits and when presenting with acute-onset pain.

A critical confounding component in this patient's diagnosis was the unremarkable non-contrast abdominal CT conducted on initial presentation. Given his acute kidney injury at the time of presentation, CT with contrast was deferred due to the risk of further contrast-induced renal injury. We propose that in patients using supplements known to promote a hypercoagulable state, the acute onset of severe pain consistent with ischemia warrants the consideration of a CT with contrast to further evaluate potential for thrombosis.

Ideal anticoagulation regimens for patients using AAS and suffering thrombotic events have not been established. While novel oral anticoagulants (NOACs) have shown great clinical utility in other thrombophilic states, their use in preventing further renal artery thrombosis has not been established. In a case series describing patients suffering thrombotic events while on testosterone therapy, the majority of patients were found to have concurrent thrombophilic or hypofibrinolytic syndromes [7]. Of note, those that continued use of testosterone therapy despite experiencing thrombotic events, 16% proceeded to have a recurrent thrombosis, and 9% experienced a third thrombotic event.

4. Conclusion

With the increasing prevalence and use of anabolic steroids and testosterone, the spectrum of side effects must be understood and recognized. AAS and testosterone act as a pro-thrombotic and pro-coagulant, respectively, through a multifactorial mechanism. When used simultaneously, the risk for the development of thrombus and subsequent thromboemboli increases exponentially. As demonstrated previously, the continued use of steroids increases the risk of recurrent thrombosis. Our patient presents a unique situation of recurrent infarction of the kidney despite NOAC use. Though a thorough history of knowledge of AAS and steroid use would prevent a delay in diagnosis, this does not undermine the lack of knowledge and treatment strategies these unique patients present. Further data and mechanistic investigation of possible combination anti-platelet and NOAC medications needs to be explored to treat and prevent further thrombosis in patients in a pro-coagulation state due to AAS and steroid use [8].

Ethical approval

N/A.

Sources of funding

None.

Conflicts of interest

None.

Author contribution

Shaun Colburn: writing, literature search, review and editing.

W. Kurtis Childers: writing, literature search, review and editing.

Alex Chacon: writing, literature search.

Alexa Swaiels: writing, literature search.

Fauzan M Ahmed: writing, literature search.

Rajinder Sahi: editing.

Trial registry number – ISRCTN

N/A.

Guarantor

Shaun Colburn.

Research registration unique identifying number (UIN)

N/A.