Androgen-induced cerebral venous sinus thrombosis in a young body builder: case report

• Main Authors: Azimi Amir, Mottamedi Mahmood, Sahraian Mohammad, Moghimi Babak
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: BMC 2004-12-01
• Series: BMC Neurology
• Online Access: http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2377/4/22

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Cerebral venous sinus thrombosis is an infrequent disease with a variety of causes. Pregnancy, puerperium, contraceptive pills and intracranial infections are the most common causes. The patient may present with headache, focal neurological deficits and seizures.</p> <p>The clinical outcome is highly variable and treatment with heparin is advised.</p> <p>Case presentation</p> <p>The patient is a 22 year old male who presented with headache, repeated vomiting and papilledema.</p> <p>He was a bodybuilder doing exercise since 5 years ago, who had used nandrolone decaonoate 25 milligrams intramuscularly during the previous 5 months. Brain MRI and MRV showed superior sagital and transverse sinus thrombosis and extensive investigations did not reveal any known cause.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>We suggested that androgen was the predisposing factor in our patient. Androgens may increase coagulation factors or platelet activity and cause arterial or venous thrombosis.</p> <p>As athletes may hide using androgens it should be considered as a predisposing factor for thrombotic events in such patients.</p>