The effect of sustained heavy exercise on the development of pulmonary edema in trained male cyclists

• Published in: Respiratory physiology & neurobiology Vol. 145; no. 2; pp. 209 - 218
• Main Authors: McKenzie, D.C., O’Hare, T.J., Mayo, J.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Amsterdarm Elsevier B.V 15.02.2005; Elsevier
• Subjects: Adult; Bicycling - injuries; Biological and medical sciences; Disease, Pulmonary edema; Exercise - physiology; Exercise Test - methods; Exercise, Pulmonary edema; Gas exchange, lung diffusing capacity; Humans; Magnetic Resonance Imaging - methods; Male; Mammals, Humans; Medical sciences; Oxygen Consumption - physiology; Physical Endurance - physiology; Pneumology; Pulmonary Diffusing Capacity - physiology; Pulmonary Edema - pathology; Pulmonary Edema - physiopathology; Pulmonary Gas Exchange; Pulmonary hypertension. Acute cor pulmonale. Pulmonary embolism. Pulmonary vascular diseases; Respiratory Function Tests - methods; Ventilation-Perfusion Ratio; Disease, Pulmonary edema; Gas exchange, lung diffusing capacity; Mammals, Humans; Exercise, Pulmonary edema; Physical exercise; Human; Lung disease; Disease; Respiratory disease; Cyclism; Humans; lung diffusing capacity; Mammals; Male; Lung edema; Athlete; Sports medicine; Pulmonary edema; Exercise; Sport; Pulmonary edema; Gas exchange; Diffusing capacity; Endurance; Gas exchange
• ISSN: 1569-9048; 1878-1519
• DOI: 10.1016/j.resp.2004.06.010

To determine whether intense, prolonged activity can induce transient pulmonary edema, eight highly trained male cyclists (mean ± S.D.: age, 26.9 ± 3.0 years; height, 179.9 ± 5.7 cm; weight, 76.1 ± 6.5 kg) performed a 45-min endurance cycle test (ECT). V ˙ O 2 ,max was determined (4.84 ± 0.4 L min −1, 63.7 ± 2.6 ml min −1 g −1) and the intensity of exercise for the ECT was set at 10% below ventilatory threshold (∼76% V ˙ O 2 ,max 300 ± 25 W). Pre- and post-exercise pulmonary diffusion (DL CO) measurements and magnetic resonance imaging of the lung were made. DL CO and pulmonary capillary blood volume (VC) decreased 1 h post-exercise by 12% ( P = 0.004) and 21% ( P = 0.017), respectively, but no significant change in membrane diffusing capacity (DM) was found. The magnetic resonance scans demonstrated a 9.4% increase ( P = 0.043) in pulmonary extravascular water 90 min post-exercise. These data support the theory that high intensity, sustained exercise in well-trained athletes can result in transient pulmonary edema.