title: Highly increased Troponin I levels following high-intensity endurance cycling may detect subclinical coronary artery disease in presumably healthy leisure sport cyclists: The North Sea Race Endurance Exercise Study (NEEDED) 2013.
abstract: Background Circulating cardiac troponin levels increase following prolonged intense physical exercise. The aim of this study was to identify participants with highly elevated cardiac troponins after prolonged, high intensity exercise, and to evaluate these for subclinical coronary artery disease. Methods and results Ninety-seven recreational cyclists without known cardiovascular disease or diabetes, participating in a 91 km mountain bike race were included, 74 (76%) were males, age: 43 ± 10 years, race duration: 4.2 (3.6-4.7) h. Blood samples, rest electrocardiogram and physical examination were obtained 24 h prior to, and at 0, 3 and 24 h following the race. Median cardiac troponin I level at baseline: 3.4 (2.1-4.9) ng/l (upper limit of normal: 30.0 ng/l). There was a highly significant ( p < 0.0001) increase in circulating cardiac troponin I in all participants: immediately following the race; 50.5 (28.5-71.9) ng/l, peaking at 3 h 69.3 (42.3-97.7) ng/l and declining at 24 h: 14.2 (8.5-27.9) ng/l. No cyclist had symptoms or rest electrocardiogram changes compatible with coronary artery disease during or following the race. Coronary artery disease was detected by coronary angiography in the three cyclists with the three of the four highest cardiac troponin values (>370 ng/l) at 3 and 24 h following the race. Computed tomographic coronary angiography was performed in an additional 10 riders with the subsequently highest cardiac troponin I values, without identifying underlying coronary artery disease. Conclusions This study suggests that there is a pathologic cardiac troponin I response following exercise in individuals with subclinical coronary artery disease. This response may be associated with an excessive cardiac troponin I increase at 3 and 24 h following prolonged high-intensity exercise.
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Biochemistry, Stavanger University Hospital, Norway.
authors.forename: Øyvind
authors.initials: Ø
authors.lastname: Skadberg
authors.affiliation: 2 Cardiology Department, Stavanger University Hospital, Norway.
authors.forename: Øyunn
authors.initials: Ø
authors.lastname: Kleiven
authors.affiliation: 3 Sandnes Kommune, Norway.
authors.forename: Magnus
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bjørkavoll-Bergseth
authors.affiliation: 2 Cardiology Department, Stavanger University Hospital, Norway.
authors.forename: Tor
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Melberg
authors.affiliation: 4 Klepp Kommune, Norway.
authors.forename: Rolf
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Bergseth
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Biochemistry, Stavanger University Hospital, Norway.
authors.forename: Jone
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Selvåg
authors.affiliation: 5 Department of Research, Stavanger University Hospital, Norway.|6 Department of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, University of Stavanger, Norway.
authors.forename: Bjørn
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Auestad
authors.affiliation: 7 Department of Radiology, Stavanger University Hospital, Norway.
authors.forename: Ole J
authors.initials: OJ
authors.lastname: Greve
authors.affiliation: 8 University of Bergen, Norway.
authors.forename: Kenneth
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Dickstein
authors.affiliation: 5 Department of Research, Stavanger University Hospital, Norway.
authors.forename: Torbjørn
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Aarsland
authors.affiliation: 2 Cardiology Department, Stavanger University Hospital, Norway.|6 Department of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, University of Stavanger, Norway.
authors.forename: Stein
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ørn
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D058070:Asymptomatic Diseases; D001642:Bicycling; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D000072226:Computed Tomography Angiography; D017023:Coronary Angiography / Q000379:methods; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis; D004562:Electrocardiography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010807:Physical Endurance; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors; D019210:Troponin I / Q000097:blood*; D015854:Up-Regulation; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D019210:Troponin I
keywords: Cycling; coronary artery disease; recreational athletes; troponins