Changes in the markers of cardiac damage in men following long-distance and ultra-long-distance running races.

BACKGROUND

The aim of this study was to compare pre- and postcompetition markers of cardiac damage in ultraendurance athletes.

METHODS

All the subjects had blood samples collected before starting and immediately after completing the running race, in order to analyze CK, hs-CRP, cTnI, and NT-proBNP.

RESULTS

Before starting the marathon, there were no differences between the groups for all of the tests. CK was significantly higher after the 308 km ultra-marathon than after the marathon and the 100 km ultra-marathon (P<0.001). In cTnI, the value after the 100 km ultra-marathon was significantly higher than that after the marathon and 308 km ultra-marathon, respectively (P<0.05, P<0.01). NT-proBNP was significantly higher after the 100 km and 308 km ultra-marathons than after the marathon (P<0.01, P<0.01). Hs-CRP was significantly higher after the 308 km ultra-marathon than after the marathon and the 100 km ultra-marathon (P<0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

cTnI was expressed after marathon and the 100 km ultra-marathon, and NT-proBNP exceeding the upper reference limit (URL) was expressed in long-distance races such as the 100 km and 308 km ultra-marathons. The highest expression of cTnI and NT-proBNP exceeding the URL was in the 100 km ultra-marathon, which may be caused by a combination of the moderate intensity of the exercise and the long-running distance.