| Summary: | Objective: to investigate features of arterial remodeling and distensibility in marathon runners by a multi-site, non-invasive approach.
Methods: 46 marathon runners (M) and 15 age-sex- and BMI matched sedentary (S) individuals were recruited (men 70 vs 67%, p=0.83; age 44±7 vs 43±6 years, p=0.62; BMI 23±2 vs 23±3, p=0.65; brachial BP 127±12/76±9 vs 123±10/74±8 mmHg, p=0.29 and 0.30; HR 53±14 vs 64±8 bpm, p=0.004). The following measurements were performed: brachial blood pressure (BP – oscillometric method), carotid and femoral BP, aortic BP (applanation tonometry+transfer function), carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (PWV), ultrasound assessment of abdominal aorta, common carotid, common femoral and brachial artery. For each arterial site mean diameter (MD) and local distensibility coefficient (DC) were assessed.
Results: M in comparison with S had increased Aortic MD (15.8±2.0 vs 13.1±1.1 mm, p=0.0001) and reduced DC (30.3 ±15.2 vs 38.5±10.5, p=0.05), with similar carotid and brachial MD (7.16±0.59 vs 7.04±0.77mm and 4.05±0.56 vs 3.99±0.82mm, p=ns) and DC (38.0±9.3 vs 40.2±11.5 and 9.9±6.6 vs 8.9±5.6, p=ns). Furthermore, femoral MD was increased (9.8±1.0 vs 8.8±1.4, p=0.01), whereas DC was similar (29.0±12.5 vs 33.1±16.1, p=ns). Carotid, femoral and aortic BP, carotid and femoral IMT, as well as carotid-femoral PWV (6.6±1.5 vs 6.7±0.9 m/s, p=0.86), were similar in M and S.
Conclusions: Marathon runners present remodeling of aorta and femoral arteries and reduced abdominal aortic distensibility. Multi-site assessment of local arterial distensibility might be more useful than assessment of regional arterial stiffness to identify specific patterns of vascular structure and function in athletes.
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