Extreme exercise enhances chromogranin A levels correlating with stress levels but not with cardiac burden.
OBJECTIVE
Stress and heart failure are associated with increased systemic levels of chromogranin A (CGA). Here we analyzed the effects of marathon running on systemic CGA levels and the association with cardiac burden and stress.


METHODS
We recruited 47 lean and obese runners for a 10week training program aiming at running a marathon. Heart rates, individual fitness and marathon finishing times were monitored. CGA, proBNP and troponin T levels were analyzed by ELISA.


RESULTS
We found a significant increase of CGA (+51%; p<0.01) in lean runners after marathon. The obese group showed the highest troponin T (0.22ng/ml; p<0.01) and proBNP (176.6ng/ml; p<0.01) levels. There were no correlations between proBNP, troponin T and CGA. An inverse correlation (r=-0.45; p<0.01) was found between CGA and finishing times.


CONCLUSIONS
Marathon running is associated with increased CGA levels. However, this does not seem to reflect cardiac burden but rather marathon induced stress.
Medizinische Klinik und Poliklinik 1, Campus Grosshadern, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Munich, Germany. tsnickel@web.de
T
T
Nickel
M
M
Vogeser
I
I
Emslander
R
R
David
B
B
Heilmeier
M
M
Op den Winkel
A
A
Schmidt-Trucksäss
U
U
Wilbert-Lampen
H
H
Hanssen
M
M
Halle
D050154:Adiposity; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D053379:Chromogranin A / Q000097:blood*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005858:Germany; D006339:Heart Rate; D006801:Humans; D020097:Natriuretic Peptide, Brain / Q000097:blood; D009765:Obesity / Q000097:blood* / Q000503:physiopathology; D010807:Physical Endurance; D010809:Physical Fitness; D012420:Running; D013312:Stress, Physiological; D013997:Time Factors; D020107:Troponin T / Q000097:blood; D015854:Up-Regulation
D015415:Biomarkers; C506150:CHGA protein, human; D053379:Chromogranin A; D020107:Troponin T; D020097:Natriuretic Peptide, Brain