Cardiac Structural and Functional Changes in Competitive Amateur Cyclists

Abstract

Fifty-one young competitive amateur cyclists underwent echocardiographic and spiroergometric examination.Compared to control subjects, there was a higher left ventricular mass and better diastolic indexes of the left ventrikle in amateur cyclists. Left venticular mass index, diastolic parameters as well as righ ventricular size significantly correlated with maxima oxygen pulse.

Increased left ventricular wall thickness with cavity dilatation and supranormal diastolic properties thus represent key characteristics of LV remodeling in amateur competitive cyclists.

Keywords

• athlete's heart
• echocardiography
• exercise tolerance
• ventricular diastolic function
• class professional cyclists
• athletes heart
• hypertrophic cardiomyopathy
• left atrial
• follow-up
• echocardiography
• exercise
• polymorphism
• association