Rev. DERC (Online) 2019; 25(4): 116-122

EFFECTS OF A MOUNTAIN ULTRAMARATHON ON BIOCHEMICAL MARKERS OF DAMAGE AND MYOCARDIAL DYSFUNCTION

DOI: 10.29327/22487.25.4-3

ABSTRACT

In recent years, ultra-resistance sports have become major events. Its growing popularity contrasts with epidemiological evidence that suggests that intense or prolonged physical exercise may not be as beneficial as moderate. On the other hand, it is known that markers of myocardial damage and ventricular dysfunction, such as troponins and natriuretic peptides, may rise soon after endurance sports events, particularly in the ultra-resistance disciplines. As might be expected, some authors have suggested that extremely intense or prolonged exercise could be harmful to athletes’ health and that the presence of high plasmatic levels of this markers would meant myocardial injury or ventricular dysfunction. This article aims to review and summarize the bibliography related to the topic, to describe the proposed mechanisms that try to explain how the physical exercise associated with other variables can trigger the values of these biomarkers. The proposed factors responsible for such elevation were also analyzed and we offer an interpretation of such phenomenon. Also, it is briefly commented the experience of our working group on the subject, as we think the results could help in the understanding of this intriguing phenomenon, which should be known and recognized by the medical community to avoid clinical mismanagement against athletes with this laboratory findings.