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Abstract Anabolic androgenic steroids (AASs) represent a group of synthetic derivatives of testosterone created to maximize anabolic effects and minimize the androgenic ones. The therapeutic use of AAS is limited. The most important indications are endocrine dysfunction of the gonadotropic axis and of the testis, disturbances of muscular development, osteoporosis, and several forms of anaemia, breast carcinoma and hereditary angioneurotic oedema. These drugs such as Deca-Durabolin were revealed by athletes and youths for their muscle building and performance enhancing special effects. Their usage has greatly increased and individuals frequently take doses between 10 and 100 fold higher than the therapeutic dose. This abuse can cause various adverse effects related to dose, frequency and patterns of use that include cardiovascular disorders, sudden cardiac death, acute hepatitis and jaundice, hypertension, and high increase in the aggressiveness. These drugs can lead to reproductive dysfunction, male infertility and behavioural disorders in the form of sexual over-stimulation. It is important to mention that abusing anabolic androgenic drugs is a dangerous fact as according to previous clinical studies and cases reports. Some factors are responsible for the continuation of this risky phenomenon that included the idea that the adverse effects of these drugs are reversible; furthermore, it can be medically treated after the sport competitions. In fact, this belief is absolutely not correct. Number of previous studies proved that this abuse can cause in frequent cases irreversible serious adverse effects such as the cardiac disorders and sperm quality deterioration. By reviewing the literature, it was noticed that the cardiovascular, renal, hepatic and gonadic histological damages induced by abusing SAA have been well studied and documented by some authors. While in contrary, no studies are available about the reversibility of the histopathological alterations induced by abusing these drugs. |