Impaired red cell filterability with elimination of old red blood cells during a 100-km race

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
Well-trained runners (22) were studied immediately after a 100-km race and 10 days later for control. Centrifuged hematocrit, plasma protein and serum Na, reticulocytes, red cell filterability, creatine and 2,3-diphosphoglyceric acid were measured. The hematocrit remained unchanged; higher serum Na concentration and higher plasma protein level values after the race [7.63 .+-. 0.43 (mean .+-. SD) vs. control values of 7.03 .+-. 0.23 g/100 ml, P < 0.001] suggested a reduction of the plasma volume by 8.5%. A simultaneous loss of red blood cells (RBC) must be postulated. Increased red cell creatine (67.6 .+-. 16.5 .mu.g/1010 RBC) after the race compared with control values (51.7 .+-. 10.7 .mu.g/1010 RBC, P < 0.02) indicated a preferential removal of older red blood cells. Since the reticulocyte count remained unchanged, a loss of older red blood cells must be assumed. The impaired red cell filterability after the race (3.53 .+-. 0.48, relative filtration time) in comparison with control values (3.20 .+-. 0.30, P < 0.005) indicates mechanical and/or metabolic damage to red blood cells, which may lead to splenic sequestration and hemolysis of preferentially older cells.