M-mode echocardiography study of twenty-two top class racing cyclists

In this study M-mode echocardiograms were performed on 22 top class racing cyclists in order to assess the incidence of structural heart alterations. A normal control group was composed of 20 sedentary men of similar age and surface body area. Statistical analysis was performed using the unpaired Student t-test. A normal LV mass was found in all athletes and normal left Ventricle diastolic diametre (LVDD) in 13 cyclists. Global and regional LV systolic functions were normal in all cyclists. Mitral valve analysis showed normal LV compliance in all athletes. Thus, the cyclists admitted to our study did not present LV hypertrophy and most of them had normal LVDD. Systolic and diastolic functions were normal in all of them.