title: Sickle cell trait as a limiting factor for high-level performance in a semi-marathon.
abstract: Of 1506 black males participating in the first Abidjan semi-marathon, 123 subjects with sickle cell trait (SCT) were detected, i.e., 8.7%. Twenty-nine of these subjects with hemoglobin S (HbS) were ranked among the first 332 participants to finish the race, a percentage of 8.2. These percentages did not significantly differ from the prevalence of SCT observed in the general Ivory Coast population (12.0%). Only one subject with SCT was found among the 22 internationally-ranked athletes. The concentration of HbS found in this athlete (37.7%), his mean globular volume (87 fl), and his hemoglobin concentration (13.8 g/100 ml) suggest the coexistence of alpha-thalassemia with SCT. These results indicate that the percentage of SCT individuals participating in a semi-marathon is equal to the prevalence of SCT found in the local population. Furthermore, the general ranking of SCT individuals is comparable to that of non-SCT individuals. Nevertheless, at the level of internationally-ranked performance, no subject with SCT only, was ranked; the one ranked subject with SCT presented an associated alpha thalassemia. We thus hypothesize that SCT may be a limiting factor for high level performance in a semi-marathon and alpha-thalassemia, an enhancing factor for subjects with SCT to succeed in long distance races.
authors.affiliation: Service d'Exploration de la Fonction Respiratoire, Hôpital Arnaud de Villeneuve, Montpellier.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Le Gallais
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Prefaut
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Mercier
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bile
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Bogui
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lonsdorfer
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D044383:Black People; D007560:Cote d'Ivoire; D004911:Erythrocyte Volume; D006451:Hemoglobin, Sickle / Q000032:analysis; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010807:Physical Endurance / Q000502:physiology; D011597:Psychomotor Performance / Q000502:physiology*; D012420:Running / Q000502:physiology*; D012805:Sickle Cell Trait / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology*; D017085:alpha-Thalassemia / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology
chemical_list: D006451:Hemoglobin, Sickle; D006454:Hemoglobins