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Injectable Steroids and Liver Damage

Injectable Steroids and Liver Damage

Injectable steroids are widely used for both medical and athletic applications. They may help increase muscle mass, strength, reduce pain and enhance recovery; however they may also have adverse side effects including liver damage.

C-17 alkyl-substituted anabolic steroids often induce a form of cholestasis marked by pruritus, dark urine and jaundice with minimal elevation of ALT or AST levels – symptoms which typically resolve upon discontinuation of use of C-17 anabolic steroid medications.

1. Increased Production of Bilirubin

The liver serves an essential function by filtering bile from the bloodstream. This process protects other organs such as the brain and kidneys from being compromised by excessive amounts of bile entering their system; otherwise it could build up and cause cholestasis, an incurable condition known as liver cirrhosis.

Bilirubin is transported through specific sinusoidal transport proteins (OATP1B1 and SLC21A6) into the endoplasmic reticulum by specific sinusoidal transport proteins, where it is conjugated to uridine diphosphate-glucuronic acid by bilirubin UDP-glucuronyl transferase to form water-soluble forms suitable for excretion.

Conjugated bilirubin deposits itself in intestinal lumen and terminal ileum where bacteria deconjugate it into colorless tetrapyrroles called urobilinogens which eventually enter bile and urine systems for excrement by excrement or excrement by excrement pathways.

Long term anabolic steroid use has been linked to cholestasis and may eventually lead to tumors of the liver, including hepatocellular carcinoma and cholangiocarcinoma, but may also include hepatic adenomas or cholestatic hepatitis.

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2. Fatty Liver

At some point, your liver should contain fat; however, when too much of that body’s dietary fat gets stored there instead of elsewhere, it can become problematic. This condition is called nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD); over time this may progress to nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH).

NASH can lead to inflammation and scarring of the liver resulting in nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). Finally cirrhosis will result when too much permanent damage has occurred within.

Fatty liver is one of the leading causes of chronic liver disease in the US. This condition occurs when fat accumulates on liver tissue and other substances, like alcohol. Over time, inflammation leads to fibrosis – or stiffening – of organ cells; when advanced enough, this leads to cirrhosis where normal function cannot exist and you may experience symptoms like fluid retention or internal bleeding; risk increases significantly as does need for liver transplant.

3. Liver Cirrhosis

Cirrhosis is the final stage of liver disease, where scar tissue replaces healthy liver tissue. This process reduces its ability to filter out toxins, process blood, metabolize nutrients, produce bile and essential blood proteins as well as produce bile for use by other parts of the body, compress blood vessels that pass through it (portal hypertension) leading to high blood pressure in these veins and ultimately leading to fluid build-up in legs and abdomen resulting in ascites.

Once the progression of cirrhosis begins, it can be hard to stop it. But cutting back on alcohol consumption, avoiding drugs that damage liver tissue and maintaining a healthy weight are ways to extend its life span.

Your healthcare provider will conduct a complete medical history and physical exam. In some instances, blood tests will be taken to check how your liver is working as well as for any potential clotting issues; or you could undergo a liver biopsy – in which small samples of liver cells are extracted using needle biopsy or surgical means.

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4. Jaundice

Jaundice occurs when the liver fails to process red blood cells properly. It’s often an indication of liver or bile duct damage; symptoms include yellow eyes and skin; occasionally symptoms may also show up in the brain (encephalopathy).

Doctors typically diagnose jaundice by interviewing patients about their past medical history and performing a physical exam. Lab tests may also be ordered to check for the source of jaundice; such as measuring bilirubin levels or ordering full blood counts as well as testing for Hepatitis A, B or C infections.

Doctors ask individuals about their drug usage, including prescription, over-the-counter medications and herbal products. They will also inquire about any family members who have had jaundice or hepatitis so as to identify hereditary liver disorders that can cause jaundice. Finally, doctors inquire about exposures such as carbon tetrachloride exposure as well as industrial cleaners used on industrial plants as well as potential exposure to Hepatitis A/B viruses.

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5. Liver Cancer

The liver collects and filters blood that comes through your intestines, converts nutrients to energy, and produces substances to aid in blood clotting. It’s a large organ located in the upper right portion of your abdomen; cancerous cells may originate here or spread from elsewhere within your body to affect it.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most prevalent type of liver cancer, beginning in hepatocyte cells and often occurring due to chronic hepatitis B or C infection or cirrhosis; however, fat build-up in the liver is also a potential source of Hepatocellular carcinoma development; although rare among young people.

Fibrolamellar carcinoma (FLC) is a relatively rare subtype of HCC that typically affects younger people and rarely causes spread elsewhere on the body. Neither Hepatitis B nor C nor Cirrhosis increases risk, so Fibrolamellar carcinoma tends not to spread quickly through your system.

6. Other Side Effects

Steroid injections provide relief for joint and muscle pain by bypassing the digestive system and liver, treating conditions such as carpal tunnel syndrome, bursitis and inflammatory joint diseases like rheumatoid arthritis.

Injectable steroids may produce side effects; their severity largely depends on where and when injections take place, dosage amount and length of use. Side effects can include feeling of weakness in the area where the injection was made as well as making skin permanently lighter around the injection site.

Oral anabolic steroids contain a chemical modification known as C17 alpha alkylation that allows them to pass through the liver unharmed. Unfortunately, this causes considerable strain on the liver and can result in hepatotoxicity, where cells within your body become damaged or die off altogether. Furthermore, cholestasis (slow or blocked flow of bile) may result in jaundice (yellowing of skin and eyes).

Routine blood tests can provide valuable insight into the health of one’s liver and detect problems such as fatty liver and cirrhosis early. People using steroids should discuss with their physicians any associated risks as well as the optimal duration for continued use.

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