Harm Reduction In Male Patients Actively Using Anabolic Androgenic Steroids AAS And Performance-Enhancing Drugs PEDs: A Review

**Clinical Report – Post‑Anabolic Steroid Withdrawal Management**

| **Aspect** | **Key Points** |
|------------|----------------|
| **Patient Profile** | 28 y/o male; 3 yrs of testosterone/androgen‑conjugated steroids; discontinued 2 mo ago. |
| **Symptoms** | Fatigue, low libido, erectile dysfunction (ED), decreased muscle mass, mood lability. |
| **Primary Concerns** | HPA axis suppression → adrenal insufficiency, hypogonadotropic hypogonadism, metabolic derangements, psychiatric sequelae. |
| **Goals of Management** | 1. Restore endocrine function safely.
2. Prevent adrenal crisis.
3. Address sexual dysfunction and mood disturbances.
4. Re‑educate lifestyle for long‑term health. |

---

## 1. Immediate Evaluation & Monitoring

| Test | Rationale |
|------|-----------|
| **Baseline labs** (CBC, CMP, fasting glucose, lipid profile) | Detect cytopenias, electrolyte imbalances, hepatic/renal impairment that could affect therapy. |
| **Serum cortisol (morning 8‑am)** | Evaluate HPA axis suppression. |
| **ACTH stimulation test** (if cortisol low or equivocal) | Distinguish central vs peripheral suppression; guide replacement duration. |
| **Baseline testosterone, LH, FSH** | Baseline of hypogonadism; assess need for sex hormone therapy. |
| **Prolactin** | Rule out pituitary tumors causing hypopituitarism. |

> *If cortisol  65 mmHg or urine output ≥ 0.5 mL/kg/h. | Within minutes | Correct hypovolemia, maintain perfusion. |
| 3 | Administer IV hydrocortisone 100 mg bolus, then continuous infusion 200 mg/day (≈ 50 mg q6h). | Immediately after fluids | Rapid cortisol replacement; anti-inflammatory effect. |
| 4 | Give empiric broad-spectrum antibiotics covering gram‑positive, gram‑negative, and anaerobes (e.g., ceftriaxone + metronidazole) unless culture suggests otherwise. | Within first hour | Treat underlying infection promptly. |
| 5 | Correct electrolytes: give potassium chloride if hypokalemia; administer bicarbonate for metabolic acidosis. | As indicated | Prevent arrhythmias and support organ function. |
| 6 | Early fluid resuscitation with isotonic crystalloids (e.g., 30 mL/kg bolus) plus vasopressors (norepinephrine) if hypotensive after fluids. | Immediate, repeat as needed | Maintain perfusion pressure and avoid hypoperfusion. |

**Rationale**

- **Early antibiotics** reduce bacterial load, prevent progression to sepsis, and are associated with improved survival.
- **Potassium supplementation** corrects arrhythmogenic hypokalemia; the dose depends on baseline serum potassium, renal function, and ongoing losses (e.g., vomiting).
- **Fluids & vasopressors** restore intravascular volume and maintain organ perfusion.
- **Monitoring** of electrolytes, vital signs, and urine output guides therapy adjustments.

---

## 3. Diagnostic Work‑Up

| Test | Why it is important in this case |
|------|----------------------------------|
| CBC with differential | Detects leukocytosis/leukopenia indicating infection or stress response. |
| Serum electrolytes (Na⁺, K⁺, Cl⁻, HCO₃⁻) | Confirm and quantify hyponatremia, hyperkalemia, and acid–base status; guide fluid/electrolyte therapy. |
| Blood glucose | Rule out hypoglycemia, which can present with vomiting and lethargy. |
| Renal function (BUN, creatinine) | Evaluate for prerenal azotemia from dehydration or intrinsic renal injury. |
| Liver enzymes (ALT, AST, ALP, GGT) | Detect hepatic involvement; may explain altered consciousness. |
| Coagulation profile (PT/INR, aPTT) | Assess for coagulopathy secondary to liver dysfunction. |
| Urinalysis + urine electrolytes | Determine renal concentrating ability and fractional excretion of sodium; helps differentiate prerenal vs intrinsic causes. |
| Serum electrolytes (Na⁺, K⁺, Cl⁻, Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺) | Identify electrolyte derangements that could cause altered sensorium or seizures. |
| Serum osmolality & glucose | Rule out hypoglycemia/hyperglycemia and osmotic disturbances as causes of neurological symptoms. |
| Blood cultures + CBC with differential | Detect underlying infection (sepsis) and inflammatory response. |

---

#### 3. Key Investigations to Order First

1. **Point‑of‑care blood test** – full blood count, serum electrolytes, urea & creatinine, glucose, CRP (or procalcitonin).
2. **Blood cultures** (two sets before antibiotics) and a chest X‑ray (if clinically indicated).
3. **Urine dipstick** for protein, haematuria, leukocytes.

These tests are inexpensive, quick to obtain, give vital information on renal function, infection, and metabolic disturbances, and can be performed in the first hour of presentation.

---

#### 4. Clinical Decision‑Making – Algorithm

```
Patient with acute renal failure (ARF) and suspected infection
|
v
1. Check serum creatinine & eGFR → ARF confirmed?
| |
v v
Yes No – treat as chronic kidney disease
|
v
2. Assess vital signs: BP, HR, RR, O₂ sat
|
v
3. Calculate qSOFA (SBP≤100, RR≥22, altered mentation)
|
v
4a. qSOFA ≥1 OR suspected infection with ARF →
Initiate sepsis bundle:
- Broad-spectrum IV antibiotics ASAP
- Fluid resuscitation (30 mL/kg crystalloid)
- Vasopressors if MAP0.5 mL/kg/h
- Lactate 65 mmHg on minimal vasopressors
- No further need for mechanical ventilation

End algorithm when patient meets discharge criteria or is transitioned to palliative care if prognosis poor.
```

But we can produce a more comprehensive final answer. The user may want an "algorithm" that covers all steps: initial assessment, early goal-directed therapy, fluid resuscitation, vasopressors, antibiotics, etc.

Let's propose a step-by-step algorithm:

1. Immediate bedside assessment (ABCs).
2. Rapid identification of sepsis/septic shock (SIRS + infection OR qSOFA).
3. Early 6-hour bundle: blood cultures, broad-spectrum antibiotics, lactate measurement, fluid resuscitation.
4. Evaluate response: lactate clearance, MAP >65 mmHg, urine output >0.5 mL/kg/h.
5. If not improved within 1 hour after initial fluids: consider vasopressors (norepinephrine).
6. Continue to monitor and adjust: maintain MAP 65-85 mmHg; target urine output 0.5-1 mL/kg/h; lactate clearance >10% per hour; repeat lactate at 2 hours.
7. If lactate remains high (>4 mmol/L) after 3–6 h, consider additional fluids or adjunctive therapies (e.g., steroids for septic shock).
8. After stabilization, reassess source control and definitive treatment.

The algorithm may be illustrated in a flowchart: starting from presentation → evaluate vital signs → measure lactate → decide on fluid resuscitation vs. vasopressor -> monitor -> adjust -> continue until lactate normalizes or patient stabilizes.

In summary, the algorithm should incorporate lactate measurement at baseline and subsequent time points (2 h, 6 h, etc.), with thresholds to guide decisions: if lactate 2 → consider additional fluids/vasopressors. The flowchart can be used in clinical settings.

The answer will include a concise explanation of the algorithm and a suggested flowchart outline. If possible, also provide a visual representation (like ASCII art) or a textual description that can be easily converted into an actual diagram."

We need to produce final answer: Provide explanation and flowchart outline, maybe ascii.

Ok.

Let's craft final answer accordingly. We'll provide sections:

1. Overview of lactate monitoring

2. Key thresholds & time points

3. Decision nodes

4. Flowchart ASCII

5. Optional diagram instructions.

Let's write.## 1. Why serial lactate matters

| What we’re looking at | Why it matters |
|-----------------------|---------------|
| **Baseline lactate** (≤ 30 min after arrival) | The starting point for all subsequent changes |
| **Δ lactate over the first 6 h** | A fall ≥ 10 % or ≥ 0.5 mmol/L usually predicts a good outcome; an increase suggests worsening perfusion or inadequate resuscitation |
| **Lactate after fluid/vasopressor adjustment** (≈ 2–4 h after a treatment change) | Allows us to see if the intervention worked |

Because lactate is a surrogate for tissue hypoxia and metabolic derangement, it can be used as a "rescue" indicator when we cannot directly observe perfusion.

---

## 3. Practical bedside protocol

| Time point | Action | Rationale |
|------------|--------|-----------|
| **Baseline** (within first hour of ED arrival) | • Obtain serum lactate (and other labs).
• Record vital signs, urine output, mental status.
• Start fluid resuscitation if hypotensive or tachycardic. | Provides a reference for subsequent changes. |
| **1–2 hours** | • Repeat lactate if initial value >3 mmol/L or patient remains unstable.
• Adjust fluids (bolus/maintenance) based on response. | Rapid decline (>10% per hour) indicates adequate perfusion; plateau suggests refractory shock. |
| **Every 4–6 hours** (or sooner if clinically indicated) | • Reassess lactate, vitals, urine output.
• If lactate remains >2 mmol/L after 24 h, consider adding vasopressors or inotropes. | Persistent elevation signals ongoing tissue hypoxia; may require escalation to higher-level support (e.g., ECMO). |
| **When lactate normalizes (4 mmol/L**:
- High suspicion of shock; start norepinephrine infusion (0.1–0.5 µg/kg/min) and consider epinephrine if lactate remains high (>8 mmol/L).

3. **Monitoring Lactate Clearance**
- Recheck lactate every 2–4 hours until clearance 10% per hour is predictive of improved outcome; aim for ≥15% per hour.

---

### III. Fluid Management

| **Fluid Type** | **Indication** | **Rate/Volume** | **Monitoring Parameters** |
|----------------|----------------|-----------------|---------------------------|
| Crystalloid (Normal Saline / Lactated Ringer’s) | Resuscitation, maintenance | 1–2 mL/kg/h initially; adjust per urine output & MAP | Urine output, MAP, lactate trend |
| Albumin (20% or 25%) | Hypoalbuminemia (180 mg/dL) is associated with increased infecti7 mmol/L → increase basal by 10 % (add 2–4 U).
- If post‑prandial glucose >10 mmol/L → increase prandial dose by 10 %.
- Repeat adjustments after 3–5 days; avoid excessive increments (>20 %).

4. **Monitoring**
- Self‑monitoring: At least 2 daily readings (fasting & 1 post‑meal).
- Weekly clinic visits for HbA1c and review of glucose logs.

5. **Safety Net**
- Educate on hypoglycemia symptoms; advise to carry glucose tablets.
- If glucose

Eloy Bourget, 19 years

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