Acute myocardial infarction associated with anabolic steroids in a young HIV-infected patient

The use and abuse of anabolic-androgenic steroids have increased over the past decade and pose a medical and public health problem. In addition to their use by athletes to increase muscle mass and improve performance, people with wasting and malignant diseases are finding that the agents improve both their physical appearance and strength. Unfortunately, anabolic steroids are associated with a number of adverse effects, not the least of which is acute myocardial infarction, which occurred in a 39-year-old man with human immunodeficiency virus infection. It is important for clinicians to be aware of the association and to counsel patients carefully about this and other untoward effects that may occur with the agents.