Myocardial Function in Older Male Amateur Marathon Runners: Assessment by Tissue Doppler Echocardiography, Speckle Tracking, and Cardiac Biomarkers

Left ventricular myocardial strain and strain rates in sub-endocardial and sub-epicardial layers before and after a marathon

“…We could not visually delineate a sub-endocardial to subepicardial border in our ROI selections; thus, we can only assume differences in myocyte orientation between areas. We assessed the LV wall and given suggestion that the RV may be more affected by prolonged exercise (Knebel et al 2009). Further, the study of LA deformation may be of relevance to understand any changes in later diastolic function.…”

N-Terminal Pro-Brain Natriuretic Peptide, Cardiac and Vascular Function in Patients with Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus during the Ascent of Mt. Kilimanjaro

“…Thus, while the previous data suggests that hypobaric hypoxia does not impact NTproBNP levels, in our opinion the true conditions of a high altitude expedition which combines hypobaric exposure with strenuous activity were not reflected in the study of Feddersen. Indeed, NTproBNP appears to increase by strenuous exercise [21]. However, given that the half-life of NTproBNP is 60-120 minutes, and that venous blood sampling in our subjects was performed after a mean rest period of 4 hours, it is unlikely that the increase in NTproBNP can be explained by exercise alone.…”

Myocardial Adaptation in Response to Marathon Training

“…This is supported by echocardiographic studies shortly before and after a marathon showing usually small and transient right or biventricular systolic and diastolic functional impairment, 8,9 but no sustained short-or medium-term myocardial dysfunction. 10,11 Furthermore, a 9-year follow-up of 114 young (age, 22±4 years) Olympic athletes with evidence of physiological cardiac remodeling (athlete's heart) at baseline demonstrated no evidence of abnormalities in global or regional left ventricular structure and function and cardiovascular symptoms or events. 12 In this issue of Circulation: Cardiovascular Imaging, Zilinski et al 13 addressed the potential cardiovascular health benefits of marathon training in 45 middle-aged apparently healthy male recreational (nonelite) athletes.…”