Statements in which the resource exists as a subject.
PredicateObject
rdf:type
lifeskim:mentions
pubmed:dateCreated
1989-11-27
pubmed:abstractText
An increase of coronary artery size after endurance training has been suggested by experimental data on animals and anecdotal autopsy reports in men. However, systematic studies on in vivo coronary anatomy of athletes have been lacking so far. We utilized two-dimensional echocardiography (2DE) to explore non-invasively the coronary anatomy of endurance athletes. Twenty long-distance runners (LDR) and 20 matched sedentary controls (SC) were studied initially. Visualization of the ostia and main trunks of-right (RCA) and left coronary artery (LCA) was obtained in 90-100 p. 100 of LDR and 70-75 p, 100 of SC. Collateral branches of LCA (anterior descending artery and circumflex branch) and RCA were visualized respectively in 60-70 p. 100 and 30-40 p, 100 of cases. The very good quality of images made possible the measurement of LCA and RCA size. LDR as a group had significantly larger coronary arteries than SC: this was associated with significant left and right ventricular enlargement and hypertrophy. These results have been further confirmed in a large survey of triathletes, swimmers, water-polo players, young LDR and prepubescent football players. Increase of coronary artery size is a well-documented effect of endurance training which can be easily investigated with 2DE, However, the large interindividual variability and the observation of very large coronary arteries in adolescent subjects suggest that genetic factors may also play a role in determining the final size of the coronary vessels.
pubmed:language
eng
pubmed:journal
pubmed:citationSubset
IM
pubmed:status
MEDLINE
pubmed:month
Aug
pubmed:issn
0003-9683
pubmed:author
pubmed:issnType
Print
pubmed:volume
82 Spec No 2
pubmed:owner
NLM
pubmed:authorsComplete
Y
pubmed:pagination
89-92
pubmed:dateRevised
2009-2-13
pubmed:meshHeading
pubmed:year
1989
pubmed:articleTitle
Coronary arteries and athlete's heart.
pubmed:affiliation
Istituto di Clinica Medica, Universitá Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Roma, Italy.
pubmed:publicationType
Journal Article