CASE REPORT
Chest pain in an elite master ultra-marathon runner: a case report with a follow-up on his subsequent athletic activity
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1
Jerzy Kukuczka Academy of Physical Education, Katowice, Poland
(Institute of Sport Sciences)
2
Jerzy Kukuczka Academy of Physical Education, Katowice, Poland
(Department of Sports Training)
3
Sechenov University, Moscow, Russia
(Department of Sports Medicine and Medical Rehabilitation)
4
Medical University of Silesia, Katowice, Poland
(Department of Cardiology, School of Health Science)
5
University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
(Institute of Primary Care)
6
Exercise Physiology Laboratory, Nikaia, Greece
7
Medbase St. Gallen Am Vadianplatz, St. Gallen, Switzerland
Online publication date: 2020-05-11
Corresponding author
Beat Knechtle
Medbase St. Gallen Am Vadianplatz, Vadianstrasse 26, 9001 St. Gallen, Switzerland
Int J Occup Med Environ Health. 2020;33(4):523-34
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ABSTRACT
Ultra-marathon running has enjoyed increasing popularity, with the number of master ultra-marathon runners growing annually. This study presents
a case of a 51-year-old highly experienced long-distance runner (body mass: 65.1 kg, body height: 168 cm), who took part in a 48-h ultra-marathon
race held in 2010, but dropped out of the competition due to acute cardiac problems manifested after 16 h of running and having completed a distance
of 129 km. Two weeks following the race, intense cardiac examination was performed to explain the drop-out due to chest pain. A 12‑lead electrocardiogram,
a 2D transthoracic echocardiography in 3 apical projections of the left ventricle, a computed tomography of the chest, an invasive coronary
angiography and a maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max) test were performed. The 12-lead ECG revealed a negative T wave in III and aVF without morphological
abnormalities. The echocardiographic examinations presented a normal size and function of the heart chambers, and a normal valvar structure
and function (only trivial mitral and tricuspid regurgitation was observed). The invasive coronary arteriography – due to an increased calcium score in
the CT scan – showed only a non-significant systolic dynamic narrowing in the eighth segment of the left anterior descending artery due to a muscle
bridge. The physical performance characteristics of the athlete and a follow-up history of his athletic activity showed that the cardiac problems he had
experienced during the ultra-marathon race did not prevent him from being active in sport. Int J Occup Med Environ Health. 2020;33(4):523–34