American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, Vol 27, 901-904, Copyright © 1974 by The American Society for Clinical Nutrition, Inc.

Hypertriglyceridemia in hemodialysis patients during oral dromostanolone therapy for anemia

¹ From the Laboratory Medicine Service and Renal Unit, Lemuel Shattuck Hospital, Massachusetts Department of Public Health, Jamaica Plain, Massachusetts 02130 and the Department of Medicine, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts

In a controlled double-blind clinical trial, dromostanolone, an anabolic steroid, was administered orally in a dosage of 200 to 400 mg/day to nine patients on hemodialysis. After 1 to 3 months, six patients developed marked but reversible hypertriglyceridemia. This did not occur in any of the patients who were randomized to the group and who were given a placebo. Hepatotoxicity was not noted. Dromostanolone was given for too short a time for its effect on anemia to be evaluated. Azotemic patients are known to develop hypertriglyceridemia, the mechanism of which is undefined. Dromostanolone has an additive or synergistic effect in inducing this metabolic abnormality.