Saudi Journal of Kidney Diseases and Transplantation (Jan 2022)

Coexistence of Interstitial Nephritis and the Cellular Variant of Focal Segmental Glomerulosclerosis Secondary to Anabolic Steroid Abuse

  • Abdullah Al-Hwiesh,
  • Khalid Al-Amoudi,
  • Khadija Alshehabi,
  • Muaz Abdelgalil,
  • Bardan Al-Hwiesh,
  • Amani Alhwiesh,
  • Nadia Al-Audah,
  • Sana M Al Solami,
  • Wael Mostafa Hamza,
  • Ibrahiem Saeed Abdul-Rahman

DOI
https://doi.org/10.4103/1319-2442.390263
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 33, no. 6
pp. 839 – 843

Abstract

Read online

Anabolic-androgenic steroids (AAS) have been widely used by young people to enhance performance and increase muscle mass. The use of AAS can affect the kidneys and lead to a myriad of presentations, ranging from mildly elevated serum creatinine and blood urea nitrogen to irreversible chronic kidney disease and focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS). To the best of our knowledge, the coexistence of interstitial nephritis and the cellular variant of FSGS [Immunoglobulin M (IgM)] secondary to AAS abuse has not been previously reported in the literature. Here, we report the case of a 40-year-old bodybuilder who developed simultaneous interstitial nephritis and the cellular variant of FSGS (IgM) after short-term use of AAS and other dietary supplements.