title: Serum erythropoietin in cross-country skiers.
abstract: Serum erythropoietin (Epo) activity, hemoglobin (Hb), and hematocrit (Ht) were determined in 21 cross-country skiers during the training season. The Epo levels were not significantly reduced in the skiers relative to the normal population (P less than 0.01 and P less than 0.001, respectively). In 11 athletes Epo, Ht, urinary gamma-glutamyltransferase, N-acetyl-beta-glucosaminidase, and microalbuminuria were determined before and after a 50-km ski race at 1600 m above sea level. A significant increase of these variables (except for Ht) was found after the competition (P less than 0.001). It is concluded that while the reductions in Hb and Ht, which are typical of several endurance exercises, are not accompanied by a renal hypoxia sufficient to stimulate Epo overproduction, the renal hypoxia reached during the strenuous exercise of the race at altitude may be effective in determining blood increases in Epo.
authors.affiliation: Divisione di Nefrologia, Arcispedale S. Anna, Ferrara, Italy.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: De Paoli Vitali
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Guglielmini
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Casoni
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Vedovato
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Gilli
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Farinelli
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Salvatorelli
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Conconi
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D004921:Erythropoietin / Q000097:blood*; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D007668:Kidney / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D010100:Oxygen / Q000502:physiology; D012865:Skiing
chemical_list: D006454:Hemoglobins; D004921:Erythropoietin; D010100:Oxygen