The volume overload type of heart often observed in endurance athletes, was simulate a diseased heart. We used a battery of noninvasive graphic techniques, i.e., echocardiogram, apexcardiogram, carotid pulse, electrocardiogram, vectorcardiogram, phonocardiogram, systolic time intervals, and treadmill stress testing in 12 professional marathon runners, mean age 33.8 +/- 11.1. Twenty nonathletes matched for age, height, sex, and weight served as a control group. Left ventricular (LV) end-diastolic dimension in marathon runners averaged 5.53 +/- 0.5 cm compared to 4.81 +/- 0.04 cm in nonathletes (p less than 0.001), LV end-diastolic volume was 172.69 +/- 43.3 ml compared to 113.57 +/- 30.41 ml in nonathletes (p less than 0.001), stroke volume was 122.27 +/- 32.8 ml compared to 78.42 +/- 20.44 ml in non-athletes (p less than 0.001), the thickness of the posterior LV wall was 1.0 +/- 0.2 cm compared to 0.7 +/- 0.1 cm in nonathletes (p less than 0.001), and LV mass was significantly increased, 212.43 +/- 55.8 g compared to 123.48 +/- 24.54 g in non-athletes (p less than 0.01). Left atrium and aortic root were also relatively larger in athletes (p less than 0.01). Right ventricular end-diastolic dimension was enlarged in marathon runners (2.02 +/- 0.65 cm). No statistically significant differences were noted in ejection fraction, percentage of internal diameter shortening (% delta D) and PEP/LVET. The carotid tracing had a bisferiens pulse in five marathon runners. The apexcardiogram showed a bifid systolic thrust in three and absence of abnormal A wave. These abnormalities were related to the overload type of heart as proven by echocardiogram. "Early repolarization syndrome" (abnormal RS-T segment elevation) and notched T waves in ECG had a counterpart a semilunar configuration in the VCG. Three athletes met ECG criteria and one met VCG criteria of LVH. The treadmill exercise ECG was negative in all 12 athletes. Biventricular enlargement and increased left ventricular mass are present in the marathon runner's heart. Myocardial contractility at rest was, however, not statistically different from nonathletes.
SUMMARYEchocardiographic studies were performed in 22 patients with atrial fibrillation and atrial flutter. In trasound transducer was placed in the fourth or fifth left intercostal space close to the sternum. The signal from the echograph was displayed and recorded on an Electronics for Medicine VR6 stripchart multichannel oscilloscopic recorder. Ultrasonic scans were obtained from apex to base and echocardiograms were recorded with rigid adherence to the technique and criteria previously established.2 Flutter movements of the left atrium and upper left interventricular septum were best obtained at the transitional area of the wall of the posterior left atrium and the posterior wall of the left ventricle. Combination electrocardiograms and phonocardiograms were recorded on all patients.Several consecutive recordings were obtained in all cases where changes in rhythm were observed from one day to another by clinical examination and electrocardiogram.
ResultsAll 16 patients with "fine" atrial fibrillation failed to show any significant oscillatory movement of the left atrial wall or upper left interventricular septum. In five patients with atrial flutter-fibrillation, both leaflets of the mitral valve demonstrated a smooth undulatory low frequency motion (patient 1, fig. 1). In two patients with atrial flutter there was a consistent and regular fluttering of the left atrial posterior wall and of the upper left interventricular septum.Patient 2 ( fig. 2)
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