Korean J Sports Med.  2018 Sep;36(3):135-142. 10.5763/kjsm.2018.36.3.135.

Effects of Super-Ultramarathon Races (622 km) on Cardiac Bio-Markers and Markers of Muscle Damage

• Shin KA
• Park Y
• Kim YJ

• KMID: 2429211
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.5763/kjsm.2018.36.3.135

Abstract

PURPOSE
Changes in serum biomarkers of cardiac and muscle damage have been studied in ultra-marathon runners for distances up to 308 km. We investigated these biomarker changes following a 622-km super-ultramarathon race.
METHODS
A group of men with a mean age of 52.7±4.8 years participated. Blood samples were obtained pre-race, during the race, and post-race, to analyze the aforementioned biomarkers.
RESULTS
Creatine kinase and creatine kinase-MB (CK-MB) levels increased during the race, and both steadily declined post-race with CK-MB declining at a slower rate. Lactic acid dehydrogenase levels overall were increased over pre-race levels. White blood cell counts increased during the race. Red blood cell decreased from pre-race to 300 km and 622 km. Platelet increased only in the recovery period. High-sensitivity C-reactive protein levels were increased throughout the race and at day 3 compared to pre-race levels. Cardiac troponin I (cTnI) levels increased during the race. N-terminal pro b-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) levels increased during the race.
CONCLUSION
The rise in cTnI was not clinically significant, and highly elevated NT-proBNP levels during the race indicates that myocardial burden rose linearly as running distance increased. However, no clinical risk was found as most of the markers returned to normal range during the recovery.

Keyword

Creatine kinase; Creatine Kinase-MB; N-terminal pro-BNP; Rhabdomyolysis

MeSH Terms

Biomarkers
Blood Platelets
C-Reactive Protein
Continental Population Groups*
Creatine
Creatine Kinase
Erythrocytes
Humans
Lactic Acid
Leukocyte Count
Male
Natriuretic Peptide, Brain
Oxidoreductases
Reference Values
Rhabdomyolysis
Running
Troponin I
Biomarkers
C-Reactive Protein
Creatine
Creatine Kinase
Lactic Acid
Natriuretic Peptide, Brain
Oxidoreductases
Troponin I

Figure

• 

  Fig. 1. Changes in troponin I at each distance and time point. Values are presented as mean±standard deviation. a: significantly different from the pre-race at p＜0.05, b: significantly different from the 300 km at p＜0.05, c: significantly different from the 622 km at p＜0.05. cTnI, cardiac troponin I (normal range, ≤0.78 ng/mL).

• 

  Fig. 2. Changes in NT-proBNP at each distance and time point. Values are presented as mean±standard deviation. a: significantly different from the pre-race at p＜0.05, b: significantly different from the 300 km at p＜0.05, c: significantly different from the 622 km at p＜0.05. NT-pro BNP, N-terminal pro b-type natriuretic peptide (normal range, ≤125 pg/mL).

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