Sections
Identification | History | Physical Examination | Mental Status Examination | Laboratory Examination | General Considerations
Excerpt
AAS use is one of the few types of substance use where a diagnosis
is often suggested simply by looking at the patient as he walks
through the door (Pope and Kanayama 2005). As we have
described elsewhere (Kouri et al. 1995), there is a fairly
sharp upper limit of muscularity that can be achieved by a lean
individual without the help of drugs. We have published a formula
to calculate muscularity, expressed as the fat-free mass index (FFMI),
which clinicians can apply if they know the height, weight, and
approximate percentage of body fat of the patient (Kouri et al. 1995). Men who have low body fat and display an FFMI
of greater than approximately 26 kg/m2 are
almost certainly using drugs that help them to achieve their size.
We have published photographs comparing bodybuilders who have used
AAS with those who have not to aid the clinician in making this
distinction (Pope and Brower 2004). Clinicians who
suspect AAS use in any patient should follow several guidelines,
described in the following section, to take a specific history.