Use of anabolic steroids can lead to severe kidney dysfunction

Athletes making the usage of anabolic steroids run a high risk of developing severe kidney dysfunction and the benefits of improved muscle mass and strength may not be beneficial to protect them, according to paper being presented at the American Society of Nephrology's 42nd Annual Meeting and Scientific Exposition in San Diego, California.

The findings indicated that long-term and habitual use of steroids can lead to severe complications including damaged kidneys, a fact that was not highlighted by any previous study.

From News-Medical.Net:

Reports of professional athletes who abuse anabolic steroids are increasingly common. Most people know that using steroids is not good for your health, but until now, their effects on the kidneys have not been known. Leal Herlitz, MD (Columbia University Medical Center) and her colleagues recently conducted the first study describing injury to the kidneys following long-term abuse of anabolic steroids. The investigators studied a group of 10 bodybuilders who used steroids for many years and developed protein leakage into the urine and severe reductions in kidney function. Kidney tests revealed that nine of the ten bodybuilders developed a condition called focal segmental glomerulosclerosis, a type of scarring within the kidneys. This disease typically occurs when the kidneys are overworked. The kidney damage in the bodybuilders has similarities to that seen in morbidly obese patients, but appears to be even more severe.
When the bodybuilders discontinued steroid use their kidney abnormalities improved, with the exception of one individual with advanced kidney disease who developed end-stage kidney failure and required dialysis. Also, one of the bodybuilders started taking steroids again and suffered a relapse of severe kidney dysfunction.
The involved researchers remarked that steroids pose a harmful effect on the kidneys and must be avoided under all circumstances.

The study was conducted in the laboratory of Dr. Vivette D'Agati, MD at Columbia Univeristy Medical Center and the list of co-authors included Glen Markowitz, MD, Joshua Schwimmer, MD, Michael Stokes, MD, Cheryl Kunis, MD, Vivette D'Agati, MD, (Columbia University Medical Center); Alton Farris, MD, and Robert Colvin, MD (Massachusetts General Hospital).