Abstract
Long distance runners competing in events ranging from 15 to 88 km showed a distance related acute phase response as indicated by significantly raised serum C reactive protein concentrations. In trained athletes only a small rise in C reactive protein concentrations was seen after races of less than 21 km. After an 88 km ultramarathon concentrations comparable to those found in patients with small myocardial infarctions were detected. Indomethacin did not affect the increases in C reactive protein after the ultramarathon. This study has established serial C reactive protein concentrations for given race distances. These data may help in diagnosing myocardial infarction during long distance running. The acute phase response should be measured in untrained people running shorter distances to provide comparative data for the physically untrained population.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 1249-1251 |
| Number of pages | 3 |
| Journal | The BMJ |
| Volume | 289 |
| Issue number | 6454 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - 1984 |
Bibliographical note
Funding Information:We thank the runners for their willing participation in the project and David Couper, of the University of Cape Town, for statistical advice. Financial support was provided by the Medical Research Council, the staff research fund of the University of Cape Town, and the South African Association for Sport Science, Physical Education and Recreation.
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Medicine (all)