6469 Supplement Misadventures: A Case Of Acute Heart Failure, Cardiogenic Shock, And Hormonal Dysregulation Secondary To Surreptitious Use Of Multiple Hormonal Supplements
Authors: Grennan Krista N , Thota-Kammili Sanjana , McKenna Amanda L , Coyle Catherine G , Samson Susan L 
Published: October 2024

Disclosure: K.N. Grennan: None. S. Thota-Kammili: None. A.L. McKenna: None. C.G. Coyle: None. S.L. Samson: None.

Introduction: Supplement misuse in the bodybuilding community is prevalent. With the availability of internet ordering and purchasing, patients have access to hormonal supplements without prescription or regulation. Here we present the case of a patient on self-administered hormonal supplements who presented in acute heart failure leading to cardiogenic shock in the setting of concurrent thyroid, adrenal, and gonadal axis dysfunction. Case Description: A 28-year-old male with no significant medical history was transferred to our hospital after presenting to an outside emergency room with dyspnea, cough, nausea, and a subjective fever. He developed acute hypoxic respiratory failure requiring intubation. Echocardiogram performed showed an ejection fraction (EF) of 10%. He was started on two vasopressors and methylprednisolone 1 g daily for two days, due to concern for myocarditis versus giant cell arteritis. Hormonal work-up showed TSH 0.02 mIU/L (normal range 0.3-4.2), free T4 0.4 ng/dL (0.9-1.7), total T3 48 ng/dL (80-200), FSH &lt;0.3 IU/L (1.2-15.8), LH &lt;0.2 IU/L (1.3-9.6), ACTH &lt;5.0 pg/mL (7.2-63), cortisol 1.7 mcg/dL (2.5-12), estradiol 171 pg/mL (8.0-35), total testosterone 1730 ng/dL (240-950), and prolactin 47 ng/mL (4.0-15.2). He received 10 mg dexamethasone at the outside facility. A medication bag found by his family included online purchases of non-prescribed testosterone cypionate and enanthate, liothyronine, anastrozole, and clomiphene. None were medical grade. He was also taking the anabolic steroid clenbuterol for 3 days prior. Echocardiogram on day 3 of admission showed an improved EF of 36%. Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed a papillary fibroelastoma and myocarditis. Patient was weaned off vasopressors and the ventilator. He was discharged on levothyroxine 50 mcg daily and hydrocortisone 10 mg twice daily for outpatient reassessment. Transesophageal echocardiogram confirmed diagnosis of papillary fibroelastoma. One month Endocrinology clinic follow-up showed no evidence of posterior pituitary, thyroid, or adrenal axis dysfunction or growth hormone excess, but he continued to have gonadal axis suppression with elevated prolactin and estradiol, the latter thought to be secondary to conversion from testosterone. Pituitary MRI showed no micro or macroadenoma. His EF recovered to 50%. He is pending surgical removal of the aortic valve fibroelastoma. Discussion: With hormonal supplements easily accessible online, it is important for physicians to counsel patients about the dangers of misuse. This case highlights a previously healthy 28-year-old man who presented in critical condition with cardiogenic shock and hypothalamic-pituitary axis dysfunction from supplements he purchased online. There should be targeted educational interventions regarding the harm of supplements aimed at the bodybuilding community to prevent similar cases.

Presentation: 6/2/2024