Cardiac Marker Troponin in Dubai Marathon Runners

Abstract

Professional marathoners demonstrate abnormal rises in cardiac biomarkers and a spectrum of alterations in a 12-lead ECG (electrocardiogram). Such alterations are likely the consequence of athletic conditioning and represent another potential component of the athletic heart syndrome. It remains unclear, however, whether the exercise induced change in ECG or the increase in cardiac biomarkers in obviously healthy athletes is of any consequence. Abnormal levels of cardiac biomarkers in marathon runners may inevitably lead to a misdiagnosis. One hundred healthy marathon runners were enrolled in this study during Dubai Marathon, Jan. 2010. ECGs were conducted and blood samples were collected 30 min before and less than 30 minutes after the race. A baseline renal function was obtained on these samples and a level of cTnT (cardiac Troponin T) was measured. 13% (7/52) exhibited ECG abnormalities before and 17% (9/52) after the race. There were no abnormal troponin levels before the race but levels increased by an average of 14.28% after the race. This was not related to changes on the ECG. Only one participant with an abnormal troponin level also had an abnormal pattern on ECG. Diagnostic biochemical tests are prone to changes following exercise. An increase in the cardiac biomarker Troponin T may be transient following marathon run. No correlation between the ECG pattern and a raised Troponin T has been found.