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Inflammation and atrial remodeling after a mountain marathon
Author(s) -
Wilhelm M.,
Zueger T.,
De Marchi S.,
Rimoldi S. F.,
Brugger N.,
Steiner R.,
Stettler C.,
Nuoffer J.M.,
Seiler C.,
Ith M.
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
scandinavian journal of medicine and science in sports
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.575
H-Index - 115
eISSN - 1600-0838
pISSN - 0905-7188
DOI - 10.1111/sms.12030
Subject(s) - medicine , atrial fibrillation , cardiology , proinflammatory cytokine , inflammation
Endurance athletes have an increased risk of atrial fibrillation. We performed a longitudinal study on elite runners of the 2010 J ungfrau M arathon, a S wiss mountain marathon, to determine acute effects of long‐distance running on the atrial myocardium. Ten healthy male athletes were included and examined 9 to 1 week prior to the race, immediately after, and 1, 5, and 8 days after the race. Mean age was 34.9 ± 4.2 years, and maximum oxygen consumption was 66.8 ± 5.8 mL/kg*min. Mean race time was 243.9 ± 17.7 min. Electrocardiographic‐determined signal‐averaged P ‐wave duration ( SAPWD ) increased significantly after the race and returned to baseline levels during follow‐up (128.7 ± 10.9 vs. 137.6 ± 9.8 vs. 131.5 ± 8.6 ms; P < 0.001). Left and right atrial volumes showed no significant differences over time, and there were no correlations of atrial volumes and SAPWD . Prolongation of the SAPWD was accompanied by a transient increase in levels of high‐sensitivity C ‐reactive protein, proinflammatory cytokines, total leucocytes, neutrophil granulocytes, pro atrial natriuretic peptide and high‐sensitivity troponin. In conclusion, marathon running was associated with a transient conduction delay in the atria, acute inflammation and increased atrial wall tension. This may reflect exercise‐induced atrial myocardial edema and may contribute to atrial remodeling over time, generating a substrate for atrial arrhythmias.