Testosterone and anabolic androgenic steroids: Impact on acute kidney injury.

The synthesis of testosterone and its modifications have allowed its use in treating medical conditions of hormonal deficiency. Currently, the most common use of anabolic-androgenic steroids (AAS)-synthetic testosterone derivatives-is for purposes other than medical treatment. Various complications have been reported among AAS users, with cardiovascular and hepatic complications being the best documented; direct renal toxicity is less well understood. AAS-associated acute kidney injury (AKI-AAS) is an emerging entity, resulting from the increased number of reported cases and greater use of these agents, although its true prevalence is unknown. Analysis of clinical cases suggests that the main mechanisms involved in AKI-AAS are indirect. This review examines the main mechanisms of kidney injury in users of these agents.