Exercise-Induced Cardiac Troponin I Elevation Is Associated With Regional Alterations in Left Ventricular Strain in High-Troponin Responders

Background: The implications of exercise-induced cardiac troponin elevation in healthy individuals are unclear. This study aimed to determine if individuals with a high exercise-induced cardiac troponin I (cTnI) response have alterations in myocardial function following high-intensity endurance exercise compared with normal-cTnI responders.

Methods and results: Study individuals were recruited from previous participants in a 91-km mountain bike cycling race (the North Sea Race) and were classified as high- (n=34) or normal-cTnI responders (n=25) based on maximal cTnI values after the recruitment race. The present study exposed all participants to 2 prolonged high-intensity exercises: a combined lactate threshold and cardiopulmonary exercise test and repeated participation in the North Sea Race. Echocardiography was performed before, immediately after, and 24 hours following exercise. All study individuals (n=59) had normal coronary arteries, and were aged 51±10 years; 46 (74%) were men. There were no differences in baseline characteristics between the high- and normal-cTnI responders. Maximal cTnI levels 3 hours after exercise were significantly higher in the high- compared with normal-cTnI group (P<0.001-0.027). Following exercise, there were no differences in global ventricular function between the 2 groups. In contrast, high-cTnI responders had significantly lower regional strain in the anteroseptal segments following exercise, with more profound changes after the race.

Conclusions: High-cTnI responders had lower anteroseptal segmental strain shortly after exercise than normal-cTnI responders. However, there were no permanent alterations in myocardial strain, indicating no short- or long-term adverse consequences of these exercise-induced alterations in myocardial function.

Registration: URL: https://www.clinicaltrials.gov; Unique identifier: NCT02166216.