title: Cardiac structural and functional changes in competitive amateur cyclists.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess cardiac structural and functional changes induced by competitive amateur cycling.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifty-one young competitive amateur male cyclists and 47 age- and gender-matched control subjects underwent complex transthoracic echocardiographic examination focused on the detailed assessment of cardiac size and function, especially of the left ventricle (LV). Subsequently, spiroergometry was performed in all study participants and its results were compared to echocardiographic data.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Higher left ventricular mass indexes due to the greater LV wall thickness and LV end-diastolic diameter were found in amateur cyclists as compared to control subjects. There were no differences with regard to the LV systolic function parameters. However, significantly better indices of LV diastolic function were present in cyclists. A significant correlation between maximal oxygen pulse and LV mass index/height(2.7), LV diastolic parameters and right ventricular size was noted.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Amateur competitive cycling leads to considerable LV structural and functional changes. The increases in LV wall thickness and cavity size together with supranormal diastolic properties are key characteristics of this LV remodeling. As well, LV mass, diastolic function, and RV size are predictors of exercise capacity, indicating an important involvement of these elements in improving cardiac function with endurance training.
authors.affiliation: 2nd Medical Department-Clinical Department of Cardiology and Angiology, Charles University in Prague, Prague, First Faculty of Medicine, General Teaching Hospital, Prague, Czech Republic.
authors.forename: Petr
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kuchynka
authors.forename: Tomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Palecek
authors.forename: Zdenek
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Vilikus
authors.forename: Stepan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Havranek
authors.forename: Katerina
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Taborska
authors.forename: William E
authors.initials: WE
authors.lastname: Louch
authors.forename: Ales
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Linhart
mesh_terms: D001642:Bicycling / Q000502:physiology*; D003163:Competitive Behavior; D006352:Heart Ventricles / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009929:Organ Size; D005082:Physical Exertion / Q000502:physiology*; D010809:Physical Fitness / Q000502:physiology*; D014463:Ultrasonography; D016277:Ventricular Function, Left / Q000502:physiology*; D055815:Young Adult