Testing for Trenbolone, an Anabolic Steroid, in Biological Fluids and Head Hair in a Postmortem Case

A 60-year-old man was found dead at home by his wife. The man was known to be a regular trainer in a fitness center and was described as a long-term user of anabolic steroids. The autopsy revealed heart failure with cardiomegaly, visceral congestion, and pulmonary edema. The local prosecutor ordered toxicological analyses but no anatomic pathology test. Initial analyses by the liquid chromatography coupled to quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry system (UPLC-q-TOF-MS) system indicated the presence in femoral blood of trenbolone, an anabolic steroid. Trenbolone was quantified with a liquid chromatography system coupled with a tandem mass spectrometer in various autopsy specimens, including hair. Concentrations of trenbolone were 3.9, 3.2, 231, and lower than 0.5 ng/mL in femoral blood, cardiac blood, bile, and vitreous humor, respectively. Moreover, in head hair, the concentration was 9 pg/mg. The presence of trenbolone in hair can be interpreted as repetitive exposures when compared to the limited literature data. Repetitive misuse of trenbolone can explain advanced heart failure. This paper highlights the importance of testing biological specimens for anabolic steroids in case of heart failure.

Automated summary

A 60-year-old man who was a regular trainer in a fitness center and a long-term user of anabolic steroids was found dead at home. The autopsy revealed heart failure with evidence of trenbolone, an anabolic steroid, in various autopsy specimens, including hair. The presence of trenbolone in hair suggests repetitive exposures and highlights the importance of testing for anabolic steroids in cases of heart failure.