Comparison of left and right ventricular adaptation in endurance-trained male athletes

Abstract

Characteristics of the athlete's heart have been investigated mostly in the left ventricle (LV); reports referring to the right ventricle (RV) have only appeared recently. The aim of the present study was to compare the training effects on RV and LV in elite male endurance athletes. To this end, echocardiography was conducted in 52 elite endurance athletes (A) and in 25 non-athletes (NA). Differences between A and NA in the morphology was more marked in the RV (body-size-matched (rel.)) long axis diastolic diameter (RVLADd): 63.4 ± 6.3 vs. 56.4 ± 6.3; rel. short axis diastolic diameter (RVSADd): 27.3 ± 3.6 vs. 23.6 ± 2.7 mm/m, RV diastolic area 28 ± 5.0 vs. 21.3 ± 4.3 cm 2 in all cases, p < 0.001) than in the LV (rel. LVLADd: 63.8 mm/m ± 5.6 vs. 60.7 mm/m ± 6.6, p < 0.05, rel.LVSADd 37.8 ± 3.1 vs. 35.3 ± 2.4, no difference). In the athletes ratios of peak early to late diastolic filling velocity (2.07 ± 0.51 vs. 1.75 ± 0.36, p < 0.01), the TDI-determined E'/A' ratio in the septal (1.89 ± 0.55 vs. 1.62 ± 0.55, p < 0.05) and lateral (2.62 ± 0.72, vs. 2.18 ± 0.87, p < 0.001) walls were significantly higher than in NA only in the LV. Results indicate that in male endurance athletes morphologic adaptation is similar or slightly stronger in the RV than in the LV, functional adaptation seems to be stronger in the LV.

Increased myocardial mass and attenuation of myocardial strain in professional male soccer players and competitive male triathletes

“…Analysis of diastolic parameters showed significant increase of PFRR in athletes compared to controls. This was driven primarily by lower APFR, which is in line with previously described decrease in A-wave peak velocity in echocardiographic studies [33][34][35]. EPFR did not differ between groups, confirming echocardiographic data on constant E-wave peak velocities [33][34][35].…”

“…This was driven primarily by lower APFR, which is in line with previously described decrease in A-wave peak velocity in echocardiographic studies [ 33 – 35 ]. EPFR did not differ between groups, confirming echocardiographic data on constant E-wave peak velocities [ 33 – 35 ]. In an echocardiographic study by Santoro et al a significantly higher E/A ratio in endurance athletes was observed, caused by a decrease of the late (atrial) peak diastolic filling velocity [ 33 ].…”

Enhanced Right-Chamber Remodeling in Endurance Ultra-Trail Athletes Compared to Marathon Runners Detected by Standard and Speckle-Tracking Echocardiography

“…Regarding the right chambers, UT runners showed RV and RA remodeling compared to M runners characterized by increased RV diameters and RA volume in presence of an “enhanced” RV function as indicated by increased RV FAC, TAPSE, RV GLS, RA GCS, and reduced RA GLS. The RV dilation could represent a RV adaption to bradycardia and to the increased venous return, which is associated with increased systolic function, as reported in previous studies (Erol and Karakelleoglu, 2002; D'Andrea et al, 2013; Major et al, 2015). …”

A jobb kamrai anatómia és funkció korszerű echokardiográfiás vizsgálata: patológiás és fiziológiás eltérések

“…A sporttevékenységgel kapcsolatos hemodinamikai változások jellegzetes átépülést indukál-nak: a jobb kamra tekintetében főként a dinamikus terhelésű sportágak (például hosszútávfutás, kerékpározás) az üreg dilatációja mellett a kamrafal hypertrophiáját serkentik a bal kamrához hasonlatosan, bár kevésbé kifejezett mértékben [44]. A funkció tekintetében ismert differenciáldiagnosztikai problémát jelent a normáltarto-mány alsó felében lévő vagy enyhén csökkent ejekciós frakció [45].…”