Nikhil Prasad Fact checked by:Thailand Medical News Team Jan 02, 2026 1 hour, 59 minutes ago
Medical News: A Routine Treatment Turns Life Threatening
Doctors in Brazil have reported a shocking and rare medical case showing how a commonly prescribed anabolic steroid may quietly damage the heart, even when used for approved medical reasons. This
Medical News report highlights how a 65-year-old woman developed sudden and severe heart failure after receiving nandrolone, a drug often used to treat osteoporosis and muscle loss.
A commonly prescribed steroid for bone health may silently weaken the heart and trigger sudden heart failure.
The case was documented by cardiologists and internal medicine specialists from Instituto Dante Pazzanese de Cardiologia and Hospital Militar de Área de São Paulo in São Paulo Brazil. Their findings raise important questions about the safety of anabolic steroids, especially in women.
What Is Nandrolone and Why It Is Prescribed
Nandrolone is a synthetic steroid related to testosterone. Doctors sometimes prescribe it to improve bone strength and muscle mass, particularly in older adults with osteoporosis. Because it has fewer male hormone effects, it is often considered safer for women. However, growing evidence suggests that even therapeutic doses may carry serious risks.
Sudden Collapse of a Previously Healthy Heart
The patient arrived at the emergency department with worsening shortness of breath, extreme fatigue, and reduced urine output. Her blood pressure was dangerously low, and scans revealed fluid buildup in her lungs and an enlarged heart. Blood tests showed severe kidney strain, dangerous electrolyte imbalances, and extremely high levels of heart failure markers.
An ultrasound of her heart revealed that her heart was pumping at less than 20 percent of normal capacity. Both sides of her heart were severely weakened, and blood was leaking backward through heart valves. Just two years earlier, her heart tests had been completely normal.
Doctors Trace the Cause
After ruling out infections, genetic heart disease, and other known causes, doctors focused on her medication history. She had received six injections of nandrolone over eight months for osteoporosis. Once the drug was stopped and intensive heart failure treatment was started, her condition slowly improved.
Advanced heart imaging one month later still showed damage but confirmed partial recovery. Genetic testing was negative, strengthening the conclusion that nandrolone was the likely trigger.
Why This Case Matters
Most previous reports of steroid related heart damage involve men using very high doses for bodybuilding. This case is different because it involved a woman using medically approved doses under supervision. The study also cites large population research showing steroid users face much higher risks of heart attacks and cardiomyopathy.
Researchers believe nandrolone may cause harmful scarring inside heart muscle, disrupt hormones that regulate bloo
d pressure, and trigger inflammation that weakens the heart over time.
Important Conclusions for Patients and Doctors
This case strongly suggests that even low dose anabolic steroids can cause severe and sudden heart failure, especially in vulnerable individuals. Doctors should carefully weigh risks before prescribing these drugs and monitor heart function closely. Patients should be fully informed that these medications are not risk free, even when used correctly. Increased awareness and further research are urgently needed to protect patients from silent but potentially fatal heart damage.
The study findings were published in the peer reviewed journal: CJC Open
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2589790X25007656
For the latest on anabolic steroids, keep on logging to Thailand
Medical News.
Read Also:
https://www.thailandmedical.news/news/warning:-gym-users-taking-anabolic-androgenic-steroids--at-risk-of-fatal-heart-issues
https://www.thailandmedical.news/news/ecdysterone,-a-physterol-extract-from-spinach-may-be-classified-as-prohibited-anabolic-steroid-for-athletics
https://www.thailandmedical.news/news/incidences-of-side-effects-from-steroid-abuse-rising-among-men-globally
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