This Article Full Text (PDF) References Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to Saved Citations Download to citation manager Request Permissions Request Reprints Add to My Marked Citations Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Citing Articles via Scopus Google Scholar Articles by Sharma, S Articles by Lertzman, M Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Sharma, S Articles by Lertzman, M Pubmed/NCBI databases Compound via MeSH Substance via MeSH Medline Plus Health Information Anabolic Steroids COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease) Hazardous Substances DB NANDROLONE Social Bookmarking                   What's this?

Anabolic steroids in COPD: a review and preliminary results of a randomized trial

Departments of Internal Medicine and Radiology, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Canada ssharma{at}sbgh.mb.ca

A Arneja

Departments of Internal Medicine and Radiology, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Canada

L McLean

Departments of Internal Medicine and Radiology, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Canada

D Duerksen

Departments of Internal Medicine and Radiology, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Canada

W Leslie

Departments of Internal Medicine and Radiology, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Canada

D Sciberras

Departments of Internal Medicine and Radiology, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Canada

M Lertzman

Departments of Internal Medicine and Radiology, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Canada

Patients with severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) commonly develop weight loss, muscle wasting, and consequently poor survival. Nutritional supplementation and anabolic steroids increase lean body mass, improve muscle strength, and survival in patients enrolled in comprehensive rehabilitation programs. Whether anabolic steroids are effective outside an intensive rehabilitation program is not known. We conducted a prospective, double-blind, placebo-controlled, 16-week trial to study the benefits of anabolic steroids in patients with severe COPD who did not participate in a structured rehabilitation program. Biweekly intramuscular injections of either the drug (nandrolone decanoate) or placebo were administered. Sixteen patients with severe COPD were randomized to either placebo or nandrolone decanoate. The placebo group weighed 55.32 ± 11.33 kg at baseline and 54.15 ± 10.80 kg at 16 weeks; the treatment group weighed 68.80 ± 6.58 at baseline and 67.92 ± 6.73 at 16 weeks. Lean body mass remained unchanged, 71 ± 6 vs. 71 ± 7 kg in placebo group and 67 ± 7 vs. 67 ± 7 in treatment group, at baseline and 16 weeks respectively. The distance walked on 6 min was unchanged at baseline, 8 weeks, and 16 weeks in placebo (291.17 ± 134.83, 282.42 ± 115.39, 286.00 ± 82.63 m) and treatment groups (336.13 ± 127.59, 364.83 ± 146.99, 327.00 ± 173.73 m). No improvement occurred in forced expiratory volume in one second, forced vital capacity, maximal inspiratory pressure, maximal expiratory pressure, VO₂ max or 6-min walk distance or health related quality of life. Administration of anabolic steroids (nandrolone decanoate) outside a dedicated rehabilitation program did not lead to either weight gain, improvement in physiological function, or better quality of life in patients with severe COPD.

Key Words: anabolic steroids • COPD • muscle wasting • nandrolone decanoate • weight gain

Chronic Respiratory Disease, Vol. 5, No. 3, 169-176 (2008)
DOI: 10.1177/1479972308092350


CiteULike    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    What's this?