Oxandrolone is a synthetic anabolic steroid that is used to treat HIV and AIDS, as well as other infectious diseases. It inhibits the production of HIV-1 in human T cells by binding to the α1-acid glycoprotein, preventing it from attaching to CD4 receptors on the cell surface. Oxandrolone also reduces the synthesis of oligosaccharides and polymers, which are important for bacterial growth. The drug has been shown to increase hematologic responses in hl-60 cells after treatment with oxandrolone for 4 hours. Furthermore, this drug has been shown to have cardiac effects such as congestive heart failure due to its ability to reduce cortisol concentrations in the blood and increasing activity index. Oxandrolone has also been shown to be effective against metabolic disorders such as pediatric obesity, hyperlipidemia and diabetes mellitus type II.