The Popliteal-Artery Entrapment Syndrome in a Patient Using Anabolic Steroids

To the Editor: The popliteal-artery entrapment syndrome is a potentially serious but rare cause of ischemia of the legs.¹ It occurs predominantly in young persons and is due to an abnormal anatomical relation between the popliteal artery and the tendinous insertion of the gastrocnemius muscle. Usually, symptoms arise when there is occlusion of the functional artery during contraction of the calf muscle; arterial thrombosis is a rare cause.² Abuse of anabolic steroids has increased in frequency during the past decade and is associated with a documented risk of acute coronary-artery and peripheral-artery thrombosis.³⁵ We describe the occurrence of thrombotic . . .