[Exertion-related heat stroke. Lethal multiorgan failure from accidental hyperthermia in a 23 year old athlete]

We report the case of a 23-year-old rower who suffered from an exertional heatstroke while trying to lose 2 kg in weight by jogging before a competition. The development of this illness was favoured by clothes that were inappropriate for the environmental conditions and which the sportsman wore intentionally to enhance sweating. The maximum core temperature was over 43 degrees C. As a consequence the comatose patient developed a fulminant multi-organ failure with the liver ceasing its function, renal failure, massive rhabdomyolysis, and disseminated intravascular coagulation. In addition, he suffered from pericardial effusion and acute pulmonary failure (ARDS). In spite of maximum intensive care with an extensive substitution of blood products, continuous hemodiafiltration, and inhalative administration of nitrous oxide the young sportsman died 48 h after his admission to the intensive care unit. This tragic course demonstrates the danger of the widespread habit of losing weight by vigorously exercising with inappropriate clothes. In this article, potential risk factors, symptomatology, therapy, and methods of preventing an exertional heatstroke are shown and discussed.