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Right Ventricular Changes in Highly Trained Athletes: Between Physiology and Pathophysiology.
Antonello D'Andrea1, Alberto Morello1, Agostino Mattera Iacono1
1Department of Cardiology, Integrated Diagnostic Cardiology, AORN dei Colli, Second University of Naples, Naples, Italy.
Journal of Cardiovascular Echography
|May 4, 2017
Summary
Endurance athletes may develop right ventricular remodeling due to exercise, potentially leading to arrhythmias. Detraining may not fully reverse these changes, suggesting exercise-induced cardiomyopathy.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Sports Medicine
- Exercise Physiology
Background:
- Exercise induces adaptive cardiac remodeling.
- Highly trained endurance athletes experience disproportionate right ventricular (RV) load during exercise.
- This RV load may promote chronic, pro-arrhythmic RV remodeling.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review current knowledge on right heart changes in highly trained athletes.
- To explore how these changes influence cardiac function.
- To discuss the concept of exercise-induced cardiomyopathy.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of studies on cardiac remodeling in athletes.
- Analysis of research on right ventricular adaptation and dysfunction.
- Synthesis of evidence regarding exercise-induced cardiomyopathy.
Main Results:
- Incomplete recovery of RV changes after detraining has been observed.
- Evidence suggests acute myocardial injury and chronic myocardial scarring in some athletes.
- An increased prevalence of arrhythmias supports the existence of exercise-induced cardiomyopathy.
Conclusions:
- Pro-arrhythmic RV remodeling may occur in response to chronic exercise in athletes.
- Exercise-induced cardiomyopathy is a potential consequence of intense endurance training.
- Further research is needed to fully understand RV adaptation and its long-term implications.
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