Cardiac remodelling in elite cyclists of a U23 Worldtour team

Congress:

ESCR 2019

Poster Number:

P-0032

Type:

Poster Abstract

Keywords:

Athletic injuries, Physiological studies, Comparative studies, MR, Cardiac

Authors:

O. Ghekiere¹, B. Vande Berg², J. Bogaert³, M. D. K. Lefebvre¹, M. D. L. Herbots¹, D. Hansen¹, M. D. M. claeys³, M. P. D. R. Willems³, H. Heidbuchel⁴, M. P. D. A. La Gerche⁵, M. D. G. Claessen³; ¹Hasselt/BE, ²Leuven, BE/BE, ³Leuven/BE, ⁴Antwerp/BE, ⁵Melbourne/AU

DOI:

DOI-Link:

https://dx.doi.org/

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Purpose

To establish in elite athletes right (RV) and left ventricular (LV) volumetric, myocardial strain and tissue characteristics obtained by cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR)and to compare them to age-matched healthy controls.

Methods and Materials

Forty-two elite male cyclists of U23 Worldtour team (mean age 19±1 yr)underwentCMR on a 1.5T system, as part of the Pro@Heart study. Results werecompared to 15 healthy controls (mean age 21±0 yr). Global volumetric and functional parameters included (indexed) LV/RV end-diastolic (EDV,EDVi), end-systolic (ESV,ESVi) and ejection fraction (LVEF/RVEF). A non-rigid elastic algorithm was used to calculate global LV and RV myocardial strain. Native and post-contrast T1 mapping with extracellular volume (ECV) calculation was performed in septal and lateral LV wall on a 4-chamber view. Data...

Results

Compared to controls, cyclists showed lower heart rates, i.e.,55±8vs 73±13bpm (p

Conclusion

Young, elite cyclists show physiological cardiac remodeling with increased ventricular volumes and myocardial mass. As revealed by CMR myocardial tissue characterization, physiological remodeling involves the myocyte compartment with smaller ECV values than age-matched controls. Endurance training is associated with greater RV than LV remodeling as evidenced by greater RV volumes and lower strain values at rest.