Severe Persistent Jaundice after the Abuse of an Anabolic Androgenic Steroid Analogue

Abstract

Hepatic disorders with prominent cholestasis can be caused by a range of conditions, and anabolic androgenic steroids have been considered a cause of protracted cholestasis. A 29-year-old man who had taken an anabolic androgenic steroid analogue for 2 months visited the hospital complaining of jaundice and indigestion. After stopping the medication, the hyperbilirubinemia tended to decrease, but a transiently elevated aminotransferase level was observed. The endogenous testosterone level also decreased initially but recovered soon after. The liver function profiles were normalized after 2 months of conservative management. This case emphasizes that close drug history taking, including anabolic steroids, is important for identifying the cause of unexplained persistent jaundice.

Keywords

• jaundice
• anabolic agents
• steroids
• chemical and drug induced liver injury
• substance abuse
• oral