Case report - (2014)13, 632 - 637
Biochemical and Hematological Changes Following the 120-Km Open-Water Marathon Swim
Wojciech Drygas1,2, Ewa Rębowska1, Ewa Stępień3, Jacek Golański4, Magdalena Kwaśniewska1,
1Department of Social and Preventive Medicine Medical University of Lodz, Lodz, Poland
2Department of Epidemiology, Cardiovascular Prevention and Health Promotion, National Institute of Cardiology, Warsaw, Poland
3Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Jagiellonian University Medical College Krakow, Poland
4Department of Haemostasis and Haemostatic Disorders, Medical University of Lodz, Poland

Magdalena Kwaśniewska
✉ Department of Social and Preventive Medicine Medical University of Lodz, Żeligowskiego 7/9, 90-647 Lodz, Poland
Email: magdalena.kwasniewska@umed.lodz.pl
Received: 02-12-2013 -- Accepted: 08-03-2014
Published (online): 01-09-2014

ABSTRACT

Data on physiological effects and potential risks of a ultraendurance swimming are scarce. This report presents the unique case of a 61-year old athlete who completed a non-stop open-water 120-km ultramarathon swim on the Warta River, Poland. Pre-swimming examinations revealed favorable conditions (blood pressure, 110/70 mmHg; rest heart rate, 54 beats/minute, ejection fraction, 60%, 20.2 metabolic equivalents in a maximal exercise test). The swimming time and distance covered were 27 h 33 min and 120 km, respectively. Blood samples for hematological and biochemical parameters were collected 30 min, 4 hrs, 10 hrs and 8 days after the swim. The body temperature of the swimmer was 36.7°C before and 35.1°C after the swim. The hematological parameters remained within the reference range in the postexercise period except for leucocytes (17.5 and 10.6 x G/l noted 30 minutes and 4 hours after the swim, respectively). Serum urea, aspartate aminotransferase and C-reactive protein increased above the reference range reaching 11.3 mmol/l, 1054 nmol/l/s and 25.9 mg/l, respectively. Symptomatic hyponatremia was not observed. Although the results demonstrate that an experienced athlete is able to complete an ultra-marathon swim without negative health consequences, further studies addressing the potential risks of marathon swimming are required.

Key words: Marathon swim, ultraendurance exercise, biochemical, men

Key Points
  • Data on biochemical changes due to long-distance swimming are scarce.
  • This report presents the unique case of a 61-year old athlete who completed a non-stop open-water 120-km ultramarathon swim.
  • An experienced athlete is able to complete an ultra-marathon swim without serious health consequences.
  • Regarding the growing popularity of marathon swimming further studies addressing the potential risks of such exhaustive exercise are required.








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