Echinocytosis in athletes with exercise-induced hypoxemia

Area of Science:

• Exercise Physiology
• Hematology
• Human Physiology

Background:

• Abnormal hemorheology is a potential cause of exercise-induced hypoxemia (EIH).
• Red blood cell shape changes may play a role in EIH pathogenesis.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the relationship between red blood cell shape changes and EIH.
• To determine if specific red blood cell morphologies are associated with varying degrees of EIH.

Main Methods:

• Three groups of subjects (non-EIH, mild-EIH, moderate-EIH) underwent maximal exercise testing.
• Blood smears were analyzed at rest and maximal exercise to quantify stomatocytes, echinocytes, and schizocytes.

Main Results:

• No significant differences in schizocytes or stomatocytes were observed between groups or with exercise.
• A significant increase in echinocytes was found from rest to maximal exercise in both mild- and moderate-EIH groups.
• The non-EIH group showed no significant change in echinocyte percentage with exercise.

Conclusions:

• Exercise-induced increases in echinocytes are associated with EIH.
• The increased rigidity of echinocytes may contribute to the development of EIH.
• Findings support the hemorheological hypothesis for EIH.