Exertional rhabdomyolysis during a 246-km continuous running race

Katerina P. Skenderi, Stavros A. Kavouras, Costas A. Anastasiou, Nikos Yiannakouris, Antonia Leda Matalas

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

130 Scopus citations

Abstract

Background: To evaluate the effect of continuous, moderate-intensity ultraendurance running exercise on skeletal muscle and hepatic damage, as indicated by serum enzyme activity measured immediately following the race. Methods: Thirty-nine runners of the Spartathlon race (a 246-km continuous race from Athens to Sparta, Greece) who managed to complete the race within the 36-h limit participated in this study. Mean finishing time of the study participants was 33.3 ± 0.5 h and their average age, height, and body mass were 41 ± 1 yr, 174 ± 1 cm, and 67.5 ± 1.1 kg, respectively. Blood samples, taken a day before and immediately after completion of the race, were assayed for the following variables: creatine kinase (CK), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and gamma-glutamyltransferase (γ-GT). Results: A dramatic increase in most of muscle and liver damage indicators was observed. The mean values for CK, LDH, AST, and ALT after the race were 43,763 ± 6,764, 2,300 ± 285, 1,182 ± 165, and 264 ± 37 IU·L-1, respectively. These values were 29,384 ± 4,327, 585 ± 89, 5,615 ± 902, and 1,606 ± 331% higher than the corresponding values before the race (P < 0.001) for CK, LDH, AST, and ALT, respectively. However, there was not a significant increase in γ-GT levels. Conclusion: Muscle and liver damage indicators were elevated at the highest level ever reported as a result of prolonged exercise, although no severe symptoms that required hospitalization were observed in any of the participants. The data suggest that even moderate-intensity exercise of prolonged duration can induce asymptomatic exertional rhabdomyolysis.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)1054-1057
Number of pages4
JournalMedicine and science in sports and exercise
Volume38
Issue number6
DOIs
StatePublished - Jun 2006
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Creatine kinase
  • Lactate dehydrogenase
  • Spartathlon
  • Ultraendurance exercise

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Orthopedics and Sports Medicine
  • Physical Therapy, Sports Therapy and Rehabilitation

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