Anabolic agents: recent strategies for their detectionand protection from inadvertent dopingHans Geyer,1,2 Wilhelm Schänzer,1 Mario Thevis1,2

1Institute of Biochemistry,Center for Preventive DopingResearch, German SportUniversity Cologne, Cologne,Germany2European Monitoring Centerfor Emerging Doping Agents(EuMoCEDA), Cologne/Bonn,Germany

Correspondence toDr Hans Geyer, Institute ofBiochemistry, Center forPreventive Doping Research,German Sport UniversityCologne, Am SportparkMüngersdorf 6, Cologne50933, Germany; h.geyer@biochem.dshs-koeln.de

Accepted 20 February 2014Published Online First14 March 2014

To cite: Geyer H,Schänzer W, Thevis M. Br JSports Med 2014;48:820–826.

ABSTRACTAccording to the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA)Prohibited List, anabolic agents consist of exogenousanabolic androgenic steroids (AAS), endogenous AASand other anabolic agents such as clenbuterol andselective androgen receptor modulators (SARMs).Currently employed strategies for their improveddetection include the prolongation of the detectionwindows for exogenous AAS, non-targeted and indirectanalytical approaches for the detection of modifiedsteroids (designer steroids), the athlete’s biologicalpassport and isotope ratio mass spectrometry for thedetection of the misuse of endogenous AAS, as well aspreventive doping research for the detection of SARMs.The recent use of these strategies led to 4–80-foldincreases of adverse analytical findings for exogenousAAS, to the detection of the misuse of new designersteroids, to adverse analytical findings of differentendogenous AAS and to the first adverse analyticalfindings of SARMs. The strategies of the antidopingresearch are not only focused on the development ofmethods to catch the cheating athlete but also toprotect the clean athlete from inadvertent doping. Withinthe past few years several sources of inadvertent dopingwith anabolic agents have been identified. Among theseare nutritional supplements adulterated with AAS, meatproducts contaminated with clenbuterol, mycotoxin(zearalenone) contamination leading to zeranol findings,and natural products containing endogenous AAS. Theprotection strategy consists of further investigations incase of reasonable suspicion of inadvertent doping,publication of the results, education of athletes anddevelopment of methods to differentiate betweenintentional and unintentional doping.

INTRODUCTIONSince years anabolic agents are the most frequentlydetected doping substances in sports. This is alsovalid for 2012. Of 4500 adverse analytical andatypical findings reported by the WorldAnti-Doping Agency (WADA) accredited laborator-ies via the Anti-Doping Administration andManagement System (ADAMS), about 50% areanabolic agents1 (figure 1). Anabolic agents aredetected in all sports1 and they are mainly misusedbecause of their anabolic effects such as musclegrowth, increase of strength, accelerated recoveryand anticatabolic effects under strenuous exercise.According to the WADA Prohibited List, anabolic

agents consist of exogenous anabolic androgenicsteroids (AAS) including for instance stanozolol,metandienone, oxandrolone, etc, endogenous AASsuch as testosterone, dehydroepiandrosterone,androstenedione, etc and other anabolic agents

such as clenbuterol and selective androgen receptormodulators (SARMs).2

Analytical challenges for the detection of themisuse of anabolic agents result from various differ-ent facts, among which a few are of major concern.These include the growing problem of the adminis-tration of unapproved and/or new designer sub-stances, the evidently increasing use of endogenoussubstances, the constantly decreasing concentrationsof the analytes detected in positive doping controlsamples (most probably due to the use of micro-doses or to an earlier cessation of the drug regimenbefore doping controls are expected), and geneticpolymorphisms that lead to different metabolic pat-terns in the tested individuals. Besides, major pro-blems in connection with anabolic agents arisefrom ‘doping traps’, which can lead to inadvertentdoping cases. Candidates for such traps are, forexample, nutritional supplements adulterated withendogenous or exogenous AAS, food contaminatedwith clenbuterol and animal tissues used in trad-itional medicine therapeutics that contain endogen-ous AAS, etc. Here, the challenge obviously is toidentify such sources of inadvertent doping to beable to warn and protect athletes.Recent strategies to manage such challenges in

connection with anabolic agents are presented.

Prolongation of the detection window forexogenous AASThe detection of exogenous AAS is commonlybased on the detection of their urinary phase-I andphase-II metabolites. Owing to the long lastingeffects of AAS on athletic performance, the recentstrategy of antidoping research is mainly focusedon the search for long-term metabolites (LTMs) ofexogenous AAS. The implementation of LTMs intothe analytical screening procedures allows the pro-longation of the detection window and anincreased retrospectivity for AAS. In 1996 the firstpublications focused on LTMs of exogenous AASwere published.3 4

The prolongation of the detection windows isnot only due to the implementation of their LTMsinto sports drug testing but also to the use ofhighly sensitive detection methods employing chro-matographic/mass spectrometric techniques (eg,LC-MS/MS, GC-MS/MS, HRMS) in screening pro-cedures. The most recent methods, which combineLTMs and new sophisticated mass spectrometricmethods are compiled in table 1. These strategiesof exploiting new analytical technologies and alter-native target compounds have led to an enormousincrease of adverse analytical findings (AAFs) in thepast. For instance, the implementation of the LTMfor metandienone (18-nor-17β-hydroxymethyl,

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17α-methyl-androst-1,4,13-trien-3-one) in the screening proced-ure of the WADA accredited laboratory Cologne in 2006resulted in an increase of AAFs with metandienone of morethan 400% from approximately 12–15 AAFs in the years 2003–2005 to 68 AAFs in 2006, although the number and origin ofthe analysed samples was nearly constant (figure 2). As Colognewas the first WADA accredited laboratory in the world to screenfor this new metabolite, the number of AAFs for metandienonein Cologne in 2006 was higher than the sum of AAFs formetandienone of all other WADA accredited laboratories.5 Thiseffect of the implementation of new LTMs was even more pro-nounced with regard to the detection of AAFs for dehydro-chloromethyltestosterone. In January 2013, three new LTMs fordehydrochloromethyltestosterone were implemented in thescreening procedures of the Cologne laboratory (see table 1).This led to an increase of AAFs from an annual average numberof 1–82 cases in the first 11 months of 2013 (figure 3). Only

one or two of these 82 cases would have been detected with themethods used till the end of 2012 in the Cologne laboratory.

Another substantial increment in the number of AAFs wasobserved for the exogenous AAS stanozolol, also resulting fromexpanding the detection window for some of its metabolites (seetable 1). Here, the use of high-resolution/high-accuracy mass spec-trometry was considered decisive, which allowed for the detectionof the stanozolol metabolite 3´-hydroxystanozolol-O-glucuronidein initial test methods at concentrations as low as 20 pg/mL;moreover, a pattern of other established as well as new stanozololmetabolites corroborated the findings, which included stanozolol-N-glucuronide, stanozolol-O-glucuronide, 16β-hydroxystanozolol-O-glucuronide, and 4β-hydroxystanozolol-glucuronide and thenew LTM 17-epistanozolol-N-glucuronide. This screening methodwas implemented at the beginning of December 2012 in theCologne laboratory and led to an increase of AAFs for stanozololfrom an annual average of about 23 cases to 182 cases from early

Figure 1 Adverse analytical findingsand atypical findings of all WorldAnti-Doping Agency (WADA)accredited laboratories in 2012reported via Anti-DopingAdministration and ManagementSystem (ADAMS).1

Table 1 Recent methods for the prolonged detection of exogenous AAS by the combination of the implementation of LTMs in screeningprocedures and the use of sensitive mass spectrometric methods

Exogenous AAS LTMs References

Metandienone 18-nor-17β-hydroxymethyl,17α-methyl-androst-1,4,13-trien-3-one18-nor-17β-hydroxymethyl,17α-methyl-androst-1,4,13-trien-3-one-sulfate

10, 59, 60

Oxandrolone 17β-hydroxymethyl-17α-methyl-18-nor-2-oxa-5α-androsta-13-en-3-one17α-hydroxymethyl-17β-methyl-18-nor-2-oxa-5α-androsta-13-en-3-one

61

Oxymetholone 18-nor-2x, 17β-hydroxymethyl-17α-methyl-5α-androst-13-en-3α-ol18-nor-17β-hydroxymethyl-17α-2x-methyl-5α-androst-13-en-3-one

7

Desoxymethyltestosterone 18-nor-17,17-dimethyl-5α-androst-13-en-2x, 3α-diol 7

Dehydrochloromethyltestosterone 4-chloro-17-methyl-5β-androstane-3,16,17-triol4-chloro-17-hydroxymethyl-17-methyl-18-nor-5β-androst-1,13-diene-3-ol4-chloro-17-hydroxymethyl-17-methyl-18-nor-5β-androst-13-ene-3-ol

6

Stanozolol Stanozolol-N-glucuronideStanozolol-O-glucuronideEpistanozolol-N-glucuronide30-Hydroxystanozolol-O-glucuronide16β-Hydroxystanozolol-O-glucuronide4β-Hydroxystanozolol-O-glucuronide

24

AAS,anabolic androgenic steroids; LTMs, long-term metabolites.

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December 2012 until beginning December 2013 (figure 4). About90% of the stanozolol cases would not have been detected in theCologne laboratory with the previous methods.

The identification of LTMs of different anabolic steroids wasaccomplished by means of several different methodologiesincluding fractionation and in-depth elucidation of urinesamples collected from human administration studies6 7 andanimal model elimination studies.8 9 A novel approach wasrecently presented, which is based on the administration ofdeuterated steroids followed by the identification of the respect-ive deuterated urinary metabolites using hydrogen isotope ratiomass spectrometry.10 Owing to the enormous specificity andsensitivity of the MS analyser for deuterated substances (requir-ing as little as 0.5 ng/mL of analyte), urine samples are readilymeasured for target compounds showing prolonged eliminationtimes and, thus, might support expanded detection windowsand retrospectivity.

Non-targeted and indirect analytical approaches for thedetection of modified steroids (designer steroids)‘Tailored’ steroidal agents with assumed (or proven)anabolic-androgenic properties have become a predominantissue for doping control laboratories since the early 2000s.Commonly referred to as ‘designer steroids’, these compoundsare not approved therapeutics and, largely, have also notundergone clinical trials. One of the first designer steroids,detected in a nutritional supplement, was 3β-hydroxyandrost-4-ene-7,17-dione.11 The most public attention however wasreceived by the substance tetrahydrogestrinone (THG), which

was detected in connection with the BALCO case in 2003 andidentified by the WADA-accredited laboratory in Los Angeles.12

From 2002 until 2008 a total of 22 steroidal compounds, argu-ably modified to remain undetected in doping controls, wereidentified by WADA-accredited laboratories13 and the need tocomplement target-oriented analytical methods as usuallyemployed in routine sports drug testing by non-targetedapproaches had become evident. Consequently, strategies tocombat the purported as well as proven abuse of designer ster-oids have been evaluated, two of which were particularly prom-ising: the non-targeted approach focusing on the detection ofcharacteristic and common fragment/product ions derived fromconserved nuclei of AAS, and the indirect approach based onmonitoring the biological effect of AAS on the profile ofendogenous steroids.

Non-targeted approachNaturally occurring endogenous androgens are well defined andknown from the basis of thousands of annual doping controlsamples worldwide. Hence, a viable approach towards uncover-ing the presence of derivatives of testosterone and its syntheticanalogues has been the screening for commonalities of steroidalagents by means of mass spectrometry and to flag those peaksthat are not normally seen in doping control samples. Triggeredby the aforementioned BALCO scandal and the identified THG,studies concerning a substantial variety of known AAS were con-ducted. As illustrated in figure 5,14 15 this approach allowed forthe identification of structure-specific product ions such as m/z241 of gestrinone and its derivatives. In addition, testosteronederivatives frequently yield A/B-ring specific product ions at m/z97 and 109,16–18 trenbolone analogues result in abundantproduct ions at m/z 227,19 and other specifics allow to generallydetect and characterise structural features of subgroups ofAAS.20 21 Employing LC-MS/MS in precursor ion scan mode,diagnostic product ions (such as the aforementioned species)can lead to respective precursor ions and support the detectionof designer variants of established doping agents. This approachwas successfully applied to routine doping controls enabling therevealing of the misuse of the trenbolone analogue methyltrie-nolone (methyltrenbolone) in 2008, resulting in the detectionand subsequent identification of the drug in 11 weightliftersbefore the Olympic Games in Beijing.22 Further studies ongeneric dissociation patterns of steroidal agents were conducted,suggesting the use of product ions obtained through higher

Figure 2 Adverse analytical findings for metandienone in the WorldAnti-Doping Agency (WADA) accredited laboratory Cologne before andafter the prolongation of the detection window for metandienone bythe implementation of a new long-term metabolite in the screeningprocedure in January 2006.

Figure 3 Adverse analytical findings for dehydrochloromethyltestosteronein the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) accredited laboratory Colognebefore and after the prolongation of the detection window fordehydrochloromethyltestosterone by the implementation of three newlong-term metabolites in December 2012 in the screening procedure(status from 1 December 2013).

Figure 4 Adverse analytical findings for stanozolol in the WorldAnti-Doping Agency (WADA) accredited laboratory Cologne before andafter the prolongation of the detection window for stanozolol by the useof high-resolution mass spectrometry in combination with theimplementation of old and new stanozolol metabolites and a newlong-term metabolite in December 2012 (status from 1 December 2013).

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energy collision-induced dissociation, for example, m/z 77, 91and 105,23 which can indicate in a similar fashion steroidal corestructures in LC-MS/MS analyses. Since these strategies are notdedicated to single analytes, groups of steroid-derived dopingagents are covered and more comprehensive analyses are pos-sible. The price to pay for comprehensiveness, however, is themethods’ sensitivity. While targeted analyses for selected ster-oids allow for detection limits as low as 5 pg/mL,24 non-targetedapproaches have to compromise sensitivity and typicallyhigher detection limits of screening protocols at approximately10–20 ng/mL.

Indirect approachThe indirect approach for the detection of designer steroids isbased on endocrinological feedback mechanisms and the effectof these steroids on the profile of urinary endogenous steroids(steroid profile), which is monitored for each athlete within theAthlete’s Biological Passport (ABP, vide infra). It is well knownthat the administration of AAS leads to a suppression of theexcretion of endogenous steroids.25 26 Therefore, suppressedendogenous steroid concentrations may trigger a search forunknown designer steroids. This strategy was successfullyapplied in the detection of the misuse of norbolethone in2002,27 where unusual steroid profiles suggested the misuse of ayet unknown (or at least not screened) AAS. However, the deter-mination of arguably steroid abuse-influenced urinary steroidprofiles does not allow for reporting an AAF. The administereddrug still needs to be identified; nevertheless, the suspicionresulting from steroid profile analyses is of great importance intarget testing of athletes and further investigations of the col-lected doping control urine samples.

The ABP approach and isotope ratio mass spectrometryfor the detection of the misuse of endogenous AASFor approximately 30 years the misuse of endogenous AAS isdetected via alterations in the urinary steroid profile.28 Themain parameters of the steroid profile as analysed in dopingcontrol laboratories are the concentrations and ratios of the glu-curonidated testosterone metabolites androsterone, aetiochola-nolone, 5α-androstane-3α,17β-diol and 5β-androstane-3α,17β-diol as well as the glucuronidated epitestosterone, whichoriginates from the biosynthesis of testosterone. Among theseparameters the best elucidated and investigated item is the ratioof testosterone and epitestosterone (T/E) which was introduced

in doping controls by Donike et al29 to provide a means todetect the misuse of testosterone. The administration of testos-terone and other endogenous steroids leads to ‘abnormal’steroid profiles, for example, abnormally increased T/E ratios.The first strategies to differentiate between normal and abnor-mal steroid profiles were based on population-based referencelimits. With the growing knowledge of individuals with natur-ally abnormal steroid profiles, for example, naturally increasedor decreased T/E ratios, the strategy changed from the use ofpopulation-based evaluation towards individual referenceranges.30 The establishment of individual reference ranges wasfirst adopted by UCI in the mid-1990s to identify individualswith naturally elevated T/E ratios to prevent false-positive cases.This was carried out by means of so-called endocrinologicalstudies.31 The combination of the application of population-based and individual reference ranges led to one of the biggestdoping scandals in the mid 1990s when during the AsianGames 1994 in Hiroshima, Japan, nine gold medallists weresanctioned for doping with the endogenous AASdihydrotestosterone.32

To globalise this strategy, that is, to be able to compare steroidprofiles analysed at different locations, WADA and the accre-dited doping control laboratories harmonised the employed ana-lytical methods. Additionally the ADAMS was furtherdeveloped to enable combining the collected steroid profiles ofall doping control samples and the direct comparison with indi-vidual and population based reference ranges. The calculationof the individual reference ranges is performed on the basis ofan adaptive model developed by Sottas et al.33 34

All these elements are now adopted in the steroidal moduleof the ABP approach. Together with the increasing knowledgeabout factors influencing the steroid profile, for example,pharmaceutical, genetic, pathological, analytical, medical andother aspects,35 this strategy has proven fit-for-purpose tosupport detecting the misuse of endogenous AAS. The steroidalABP is an open system and additional urinary steroids and ratioscan be used for the decision-making process.35–37 An invaluableaddition to this strategy is the use of the isotope ratio mass spec-trometry (IRMS). This technique allows to differentiate betweennatural and synthetic endogenous steroids by means of theratios of the stable carbon isotopes 13C and 12C,38 39 that is, asuspicion of the misuse of endogenous AAS, triggered by thesteroidal module of the ABP, can be proven by subsequent IRMSanalyses.

Figure 5 Non-targeted analysis(precursor ion scan): screening for acommon fragment of different steroids(m/z 241).

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Preventive doping research approach for the detection ofSARMsBeing categorised as ‘other anabolic agents’, SARMs have beenprohibited according to WADA’s regulations since 2008. Owingto their proven anabolic properties and ability to stimulate theandrogen receptor in muscle and bone, a substantial misusepotential was identified. This might be even more fuelled by thefact that SARMs inhibit androgen receptor activity in otherorgans (eg, skin and prostate) and have demonstrated less (or atleast other) undesirable effects on the human organism thanAAS.

Numerous SARMs have been subjected to preclinical and clin-ical trials since the first non-steroidal representatives of this newclass of therapeutics were introduced in 1998.40 The number ofnew drug (or chemical) entities with SARM-like properties hasbeen growing constantly and reviews on recent developmentsare frequently published41; however, full clinical approval hasnot been accomplished for any of the drug candidate SARMsyet, although the arylpropionamide-derived therapeuticOstarine (figure 6B) has been in phase-III clinical trials andmight be launched for specific interventions in the near future.In fact, numerous potential candidates were discontinued, argu-ably due to inacceptable side effects. A selection of 10 SARMsubstances is depicted in figure 6, illustrating the chemical het-erogeneity and thus the analytical challenge for sports drugtesting laboratories for these emerging compounds.

Although not yet marketed, SARMs are prohibited and theirtherapeutic profile has certainly justified the proactive methoddevelopment for detecting these analytes as comprehensive aspossible in routine doping controls. As such, SARMs have beena matter of preventive doping research, and first assays allowingfor the analysis of arylpropionamide-derived SARMs (such asAndarine and Ostarine) were published in 2006.42 In the subse-quent years, a great variety of additional though structurally

different SARM candidates were presented in scientific articlesas well as patents. Representatives of these were studied con-cerning their traceability in sports drug testing samples includingblood and urine,43 44 largely requiring their chemical synthesisdue to limited/non-availability of reference material. Moreover,their metabolism was investigated using in vitro or animal invivo models to provide potential target analytes for efficienturine doping controls.45 The relevance of the work was demon-strated soon after as SARM drug candidates including the offi-cially discontinued Andarine were offered and sold byInternet-based suppliers,46 47 and first AAFs with Andarine werereported in 201048 and 2011.49 These findings highlight theimportance of preventive doping research and the options givento antidoping authorities to reduce cheating athletes’ windowsof opportunity to abuse yet non-approved drugs. It is however atask of substantial complexity and benefits greatly from con-structive collaborations with partners in the pharmaceuticalindustry, at European (EuMoCEDA) and international (WADA)level.

Protection of athletes from inadvertent doping withanabolic agentsWithin the past few years, several sources of inadvertent dopingwith anabolic agents have been identified. Among these arenutritional supplements adulterated with AAS, meat productscontaminated with clenbuterol and natural products containingendogenous AAS.

Since about 2003 a great number of nutritional supplementshave become available, advertised with claims of enormousmuscle growth and increase in strength. According to the adver-tisements and the labels these biological effects are attributed tonew ingredients and formulae with fantasy-derived andunapproved names. The analyses of many of these products hasshown that they contain exogenous AAS such as metandienone,

Figure 6 Chemical structures of selected selective androgen receptor modulator drug candidates: andarine (A), ostarine (B), BMS-564929 (C),4-(7-hydroxy-1,3-dioxo-tetrahydro-pyrrolo[1,2-c]imidazol-2-yl)-naphthalene-1-carbonitrile (D), LGD-121071 (E), LGD-2226 (F), S-40503 (G),2-methyl-2-(8-nitro-3a,4,5,9b-tetrahydro-3H-cyclopenta[c]chinolin-4-yl)propan-1-ol (H), RAD140 (I), and ACP-105 ( J).

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stanozolol, oxandrolone and dehydrochloromethyltestosteronein therapeutic or even supratherapeutic doses, not declared onthe label. Also nutritional supplements adulterated with clenbu-terol have been detected, which were additionally advertisedwith their fat burning effects.13 50 The consumption of suchsupplements inevitably leads to AAFs and is connected withconsiderable health risks. Criminal nutritional supplement pro-ducers use this strategy to establish their ineffective products inthe sports market. To prevent inadvertent doping cases athletesshould avoid the consumption of nutritional supplements,which are advertised with extreme claims of muscle growth,increase of strength and fat loss.51 The best strategy to overcomethis problem seems to be the appropriate education of athletes.

A further source of inadvertent doping, which attracted atten-tion within the past 3 years was meat contaminated with clenbu-terol. The anabolic agent clenbuterol has been evidentlymisused as growth promoter in cattle feeding in selected coun-tries and meat originating from these farms can contain tracesof clenbuterol leading to AAFs or even poisonings. In 2010 and2011 unexplainable doping cases with clenbuterol of groups ofathletes in table tennis and soccer led to investigations of theorigin of these findings. It could be shown that the travel andstay in China and Mexico was connected with a high risk ofinadvertent doping with clenbuterol.52 53 The most probablesource is contaminated meat but other animal products such asmilk or offal cannot be excluded. Also other risk countriesmight exist. The antidoping research, which also includes inves-tigations to protect athletes from inadvertent doping, is nowfocused on the development of methods to differentiatebetween clenbuterol originating from medication and from con-taminated meat. Promising results are provided by studies ofpharmacokinetics and metabolism of clenbuterol.54 55 A furthertool for the differentiation of inadvertent and intentional inges-tion of doping agents maybe hair analysis.56

Similar to the clenbuterol contamination issue, the uninten-tional intake of the mycotoxin zearalenone can result in AAFsconcerning one of its human urinary metabolites referred to aszeranol. Zeranol has been prohibited according to the regula-tions of WADA as an anabolic agent and its formation fromzearalenone has been observed in humans, representing an ana-lytical challenge for doping controls as the drug’s deliberate

intake needs to be differentiated from the consumption ofmycotoxin-contaminated produce. A viable strategy was estab-lished employing metabolite profiling of zearalenone andzeranol in case of suspicious test results, which confirmed zeara-lenone as the origin of zeranol findings in 2011.57

A very unusual source of arguably inadvertent doping withanabolic agents was detected during the FIFA women’s WorldCup 2011 in soccer in Germany.58 Five players of a team weretested positive for endogenous AAS. The AAFs were detected bymeans of atypical steroid profiles and confirmed by positiveIRMS results. Extracts and grains of deer musk pods were iden-tified as source of the positive results. These animal productscontained huge amounts of 16 different endogenous AAS ofwhich 9 were listed on the WADA Prohibited List 2011 (seefigure 7). These musk deer products were claimed to be used bythe team to increase mental strength without knowing that theconsumption leads to AAFs.

These examples show that antidoping research is not onlyfocused on the development of methods to catch the cheatingathlete but also to protect the clean athlete. The protection strat-egy consists of the following steps: further investigations in caseof reasonable suspicion of inadvertent doping, publication ofthe results, education of athletes, development of methods todifferentiate between intentional and inadvertent doping.

Important aspects of this review are

▸ Anabolic agents remain the most frequently detected classof doping agents in elite sport.

▸ A significant increase in findings has been observedwhenever new target analytes for improved retrospectivitywere introduced.

▸ New, emerging therapeutics of non-steroidal structure haveentered the illicit market and have been detected recently insports drug testing.

▸ Analytical strategies largely rely on steroid profiling andtarget analyte detection with continuously improvingdetection windows.

Figure 7 Steroids detected in a muskpod sample.59

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Contributors HG, WS and MT contributed equally to the different review chapterswith literature review, data compiling and preparation of the manuscript.

Competing interests None.

Patient consent Obtained.

Provenance and peer review Not commissioned; externally peer reviewed.

Open Access This is an Open Access article distributed in accordance with theCreative Commons Attribution Non Commercial (CC BY-NC 3.0) license, whichpermits others to distribute, remix, adapt, build upon this work non-commercially,and license their derivative works on different terms, provided the original work isproperly cited and the use is non-commercial. See: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/

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