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- Titel:
Myocardial Fibrosis in Competitive Triathletes Detected by Contrast-Enhanced CMR Correlates With Exercise-Induced Hypertension and Competition History.
- Dokumenttyp:
- Journal Article
- Autor(en):
- Tahir, Enver; Starekova, Jitka; Muellerleile, Kai; von Stritzky, Alexandra; Münch, Julia; Avanesov, Maxim; Weinrich, Julius M; Stehning, Christian; Bohnen, Sebastian; Radunski, Ulf K; Freiwald, Eric; Blankenberg, Stefan; Adam, Gerhard; Pressler, Axel; Patten, Monica; Lund, Gunnar K
- Abstract:
- OBJECTIVES: This study analyzed the presence of myocardial fibrosis detected by late gadolinium-enhancement (LGE) cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) in correlation with the performance of competitive triathletes objectified by an exercise test and individual competition history. BACKGROUND: Myocardial fibrosis detected by LGE CMR has been reported to occur in 0% to 50% of asymptomatic athletes. However, the cause and mechanisms of myocardial fibrosis are unclear. METHODS: Eighty-three asymptomatic triathletes undergoing >10 training h per week (43 ± 10 years of age; 65% male) and 36 sedentary controls were studied by using LGE and extracellular volume (ECV) CMR. Parameters of physical fitness were measured by spiroergometry. Triathletes reported their lifetime competition results. RESULTS: LGE CMR revealed focal nonischemic myocardial fibrosis in 9 of 54 (17%) male triathletes (LGE+) but in none of the female triathletes (p < 0.05). LGE+ triathletes had higher peak exercise systolic blood pressure (213 ± 24 mm Hg) than LGE- triathletes (194 ± 26 mm Hg; p < 0.05). Furthermore, left ventricular mass index was higher in LGE+ triathletes (93 ± 7 g/m2) than in LGE- triathletes (84 ± 11 g/m2; p < 0.05). ECV in LGE- myocardium was higher in LGE+ triathletes (26.3 ± 1.8%) than in LGE- triathletes (24.4 ± 2.2%; p < 0.05). LGE+ triathletes completed longer cumulative distances in swimming and cycling races and participated more often in middle and Iron Man distances than LGE- triathletes. A cycling race distance of >1,880 km completed during competition had the highest accuracy to predict LGE, with an area under the curve value of 0.876 (p < 0.0001), resulting in high sensitivity (89%) and specificity (79%). Multivariate analysis identified peak exercise systolic blood pressure (p < 0.05) and the swimming race distance (p < 0.01) as independent predictors of LGE presence. CONCLUSIONS: Myocardial fibrosis in asymptomatic triathletes seems to be associated with exercise-induced hypertension and the race distances. There appears to be a safe upper limit, beyond which exercise may result in myocardial fibrosis.
- Zeitschriftentitel:
- JACC Cardiovasc Imaging
- Jahr:
- 2018
- Band / Volume:
- 11
- Heft / Issue:
- 9
- Seitenangaben Beitrag:
- 1260-1270
- Volltext / DOI:
- doi:10.1016/j.jcmg.2017.09.016
- PubMed:
- http://view.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/29248656
- Print-ISSN:
- 1936-878X
- TUM Einrichtung:
- Poliklinik für Präventive und Rehabilitative Sportmedizin
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