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Key Words: Cardiac troponin T; B-type natriuretic peptide; N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide; Lactic acidosis; Ionized magnesium;
Acute coronary syndrome; Sudden cardiac death; Marathon
DOI: 10.1309/4L0M60MGAQBCHMV7
marathon runners admitted to the finish line medical tent 79 cases and whole blood glucose levels in 43 (31%) of 139
at the 2006 and 2007 Boston marathons. Samples from the cases, with no hypoglycemia noted.
2006 marathon were analyzed by whole blood point-of-care The mean TnT value was 0.017 ng/mL (0.017 g/L; SD,
technologies for electrolytes, glucose, serum urea nitrogen, 0.02 ng/mL [0.02 g/L]) in 99 collapsed marathon runners
lactate, ionized calcium, and ionized magnesium using an at the 2007 Boston Marathon zTable 2z. Of the 99 collapsed
acute care analyzer (Nova Biomedical, Waltham, MA). runners, 18 (18%) exhibited measurable levels of TnT and 8
After the 2007 marathon, discarded plasma samples (8%) had values of more than the threshold of 0.03 ng/mL
were frozen at 80C for subsequent analysis of TnT and (0.03 g/L) indicative of myocardial necrosis2 by a fourth-
NT-proBNP on the Roche Elecsys 2010 immunoassay ana- generation TnT assay. Three subjects had TnT values of more
lyzer (Roche Diagnostics, Indianapolis, IN) using a fourth- than the traditional cutoff point of 0.1 ng/mL (0.1 g/L) used
generation TnT assay and the standard Roche NT-proBNP for the diagnosis of acute myocardial infarction (0.106, 0.172,
assay. The cut point yielding the highest functional and 0.108 ng/mL [0.106, 0.172, and 0.108 g/L]).
sensitivity at a 10% coefficient of variation for the TnT The median NT-proBNP value was 54 ng/L (interquartile
assay is 0.03 ng/mL (0.03 g/L), and the appropriate age- range, 22.8-87.3 ng/L). Only 5 runners had NT-proBNP val-
matched upper limit of normal for the NT-proBNP assay ues of more than the age-adjusted cutoff value. These 5 values
for this population is less than 125 ng/L. The imprecision showed modest elevations of NT-proBNP (186, 188, 224, 221,
of the Roche NT-proBNP assay varies from less than 2.7% and 331 ng/L). Of the 5 runners with an elevated NT-proBNP
(within-run) to less than 3.2% (total imprecision) across the level, 3 (60%) also had measurable levels of TnT.
analytic range. Hemolyzed samples were excluded from
the study.
The mean age of the subjects was 39.1 years (SD, 10.4
Discussion
years). Of the subjects, 62% were men and 38% were women.
Multiple studies reporting elevations in cardiac TnT and
B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP or NT-proBNP) levels follow-
ing marathon running clearly establish a myocardial source, fur-
Results
ther supported by recent data demonstrating strong associations
Mean values for whole blood point-of-care chemistry between elevated cardiac biomarkers and the postrace develop-
analytes in collapsed marathon runners from the 2006 Boston
Marathon are shown in zTable 1z. Not all analytes were mea-
sured for each subject owing to the availability of analyzers zTable 2z
Distribution of Troponin T Values in 99 Collapsed Marathon
and samples for testing. Of 139 subjects, 25 (18.0%) had an Runners
abnormal sodium value; 18 cases showed hypernatremia and
7 showed hyponatremia. The serum urea nitrogen level was Troponin T Range, ng/mL (g/L) No. (%) of Cases
zTable 1z
Summary of Whole Blood Routine Chemistry Testing Results in Collapsed Marathon Runners*
ment of abnormalities shown on 2-dimensional echocardiog- ized calcium level.17 Metabolic acidosis also is a known cause
raphy.9 In a recent study of asymptomatic marathon runners of hypomagnesemia, as was found in 8 cases. Low ionized
following competition, more than 60% of participants had calcium and magnesium levels may contribute to impaired
measurable increases in TnT levels, with 40% at or above the skeletal muscle and, potentially, myocardial function18 in the
decision limit for acute myocardial necrosis (TnT 0.03 ng/ collapsed runners. The mean glucose value of 117 mg/dL (6.5
mL [0.03 g/L]). These changes were inversely related to train- mmol/L) in collapsed runners reported herein is similar to the
ing experience.9 In another recent study, postrace cardiac TnT mean of 110 mg/dL (6.1 mmol/L) reported in asymptomatic
levels were elevated (0.01 or 0.1 ng/mL [0.01 or 0.1 g/L]) finishers.6 No collapsed runners were hypoglycemic.
in 68% of 482 runners following the 2002 Boston Marathon, The mechanism underlying exertional triggering of acute
including 11% with a TnT level of 0.075 ng/mL (0.075 g/L) cardiac events remains unknown. Relative risks 2.38- and
or more or of 0.5 ng/mL (0.5 g/L) or more.11 16.9-fold greater in apparently healthy women and men,
In contrast with these results in asymptomatic runners respectively, have been reported for acute cardiac events,
who completed a marathon, in our study, only 18% of col- including sudden death, during strenuous exercise compared
lapsed runners showed measurable TnT values, with 8% with baseline at rest.1,19 Marathon running is associated with
greater than 0.03 ng/mL (0.03 g/L); 3 had values of more an abrupt but transient increase in relative risk for ACS in
than 0.1 ng/mL (0.1 g/L). These percentages are distinctly persons who are otherwise at relatively low risk. Despite
lower than those observed by Neilan et al9 and Fortescue improved emergency cardiac care along race courses in recent
et al11 in asymptomatic runners. Because the degree of TnT years, the rate of sudden death predominantly in middle aged
release seems to somewhat parallel the degree of endurance men has remained at 1 per 50,000 marathoners during the last
exercise, it may be that our collapsed runners did not achieve 2 decades.4,5 The Marine Corps and Los Angeles marathons
the intensive myocardial stress achieved by runners who com- experienced multiple cases of cardiac arrest in 2007, perhaps
plete a full marathon. Lending further support to this concept reflecting increasing participation of older runners. Boston
is that the values for NT-proBNP in collapsed runners in our Marathon entrants between ages 40 and 59 years increased
study were generally within the age-adjusted normal range from 4,000 in 1997 to 10,000 in 2007.20
and lower than the median postrace NT-proBNP level of 131 Although we show comparable (if not lower) levels of
pg/mL reported in asymptomatic runners who successfully diagnostic and prognostically meaningful cardiac biomarkers
completed the race.9 Thus, in aggregate, our data suggest that among endurance athletes compared with levels in athletes
cardiovascular insufficiency does not underlie the mechanism who finished the marathon, we also found prevalent abnor-
of collapse in the vast majority of collapsed runners. malities in various electrolytes, which in conjunction with
Rapid whole blood point-of-care analyte results in 135 lactic acidosis and a decrease in ionized calcium and magne-
collapsed runners at the 2006 race demonstrated frequent sium levels may contribute to the enhanced risk for ventricular
abnormalities of sodium, lactate, ionized calcium, and ionized fibrillation during acute exertional events. Furthermore, the
magnesium levels. Hypernatremia was observed in 13% and significance of these metabolic abnormalities as related to
hyponatremia in 5% of collapsed marathon runners (com- exercise-induced collapse is not yet clear.
pared with 25% and 6%, respectively, during the 2004 race
at warmer temperatures12). Prevention of hypernatremia and From the 1Department of Medicine, McLean Hospital, Belmont,
MA; Departments of 2Cardiology and 3Pathology, Massachusetts
hyponatremia is the focus of recently revised recommenda-
General Hospital and 4Harvard Medical School, Boston; and
tions for optimal hydration issued by the American College 5Nova Biomedical, Waltham, MA.
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