Heat Stroke and Pregnancy

Area of Science:

• Sports Medicine
• Environmental Health
• Obstetrics

Background:

• Heat injuries pose significant risks, especially during physically demanding activities.
• Pregnancy can alter physiological responses to environmental stressors like heat.
• Certain supplements and pre-event behaviors may exacerbate heat injury risk.

Purpose of the Study:

• To report a case of severe heat stroke in a pregnant athlete.
• To highlight the diagnostic and management challenges of heat injury during pregnancy.
• To assess the impact of heat stroke on pregnancy viability and maternal recovery.

Main Methods:

• Case report of a 33-year-old pregnant woman with heat stroke.
• Clinical assessment including laboratory tests (AST, ALT, CK, BUN, Cr) and urinalysis.
• Monitoring of maternal and fetal well-being throughout hospitalization and follow-up.

Main Results:

• The patient experienced heat stroke with markedly elevated liver enzymes (AST/ALT up to 8k) and creatine kinase (CK up to 36k).
• Initial renal function was mildly impaired but normalized with fluid resuscitation.
• Despite initial concerns, the pregnancy remained viable, and the patient recovered fully with conservative management, though with residual muscle soreness and elevated markers.
• Follow-up showed normalization of CK, AST, and ALT levels, with the pregnancy proceeding normally.

Conclusions:

• Heat stroke in pregnant athletes requires careful management due to potential risks to both mother and fetus.
• Prompt medical intervention and rest are crucial for recovery.
• Patients with a history of severe heat injury, especially during pregnancy, are at high risk for recurrence and may benefit from heat tolerance testing.