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Effect of cycling in the heat for 164 km on procoagulant and fibrinolytic parameters

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Abstract

Purpose

We assessed the impact of completing the Hotter’n Hell Hundred (HHH), an annual 164 km road cycling event performed in a hot environment, on hemostatic balance in men.

Methods

Sixteen men who completed the ride in <6 h were included in this study. Plasma samples were collected on that morning of the ride (PRE) and immediately on the completion of the ride (IP). Primary hemostasis was assessed by platelet count and von Willebrand factor antigen (vWF:Ag). Coagulation was assessed by measuring prothrombin fragment 1 + 2 (PTF 1 + 2) and thrombin-antithrombin complex (TAT), whereas fibrinolysis was assessed by plasminogen activator inhibitor antigen (PAI-1 Ag), tissue plasminogen activator (tPA Ag), and D-Dimer analyses.

Results

Compared to PRE, increases (p < 0.001) were observed at IP for platelets (39 %), vWF:Ag (65 %), PTF 1 + 2 (47 %), TAT (81 %), tPA Ag (231 %), PAI-1 Ag (148 %), and D-Dimer (54 %). PRE PAI-1 Ag concentrations were directly related to BMI and waist circumference (p < 0.05). D-Dimer concentrations at IP correlated positively with age (p < 0.05).

Conclusions

Completing the HHH activated the coagulation and fibrinolytic systems in balance. Age was positively correlated with IP D-Dimer concentrations. Additionally, participants displaying a larger BMI and waist circumference exhibited a positive correlation with PRE PAI-1 Ag concentrations.

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Abbreviations

BMI:

Body mass index

CVD:

Cardiovascular disease

DVT:

Deep vein thrombosis

HHH:

Hotter’N Hell Hundred

IP:

Immediate post-ride

PAI-1 Ag:

Plasminogen activator inhibitor-1

PRE:

Pre-ride

PTF 1 + 2:

Prothrombin fragment 1 + 2

PE:

Pulmonary embolism

TAT:

Thrombin-antithrombin complex

tPA:

Tissue plasminogen activator

vWF:Ag:

von Willebrand factor antigen

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Acknowledgments

The authors gratefully acknowledge the expertise Keith H Williamson, MD (medical director) for his expertise and the HHH Expo committee for the use of facilities in the Wichita Falls Multi Purpose Event Center. This research study was not funded by external sources; all funds were internal to the University of Connecticut or University of North Texas.

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Military and Emergency Medicine, Uniformed Services University of Health Sciences, 4301 Jones Bridge Road, Bethesda, MD, 20814, USA

    Brian R. Kupchak

  2. Department of Kinesiology, University of Connecticut, 2095 Hillside Road, Storrs, CT, 06269, USA

    Brian R. Kupchak, Amy L. McKenzie, Cathy Saenz, Laura J. Kunces, Lindsay A. Ellis, Elaine C. Lee, Evan C. Johnson & Lawrence E. Armstrong

  3. Departments of Kinesiology Health Promotion and Recreation and Biological Sciences, University of North Texas, Denton, TX, 76203, USA

    Hui-Ying Luk & Jakob L. Vingren

  4. Department of Cardiology, Henry Low Heart Center, Hartford Hospital, Hartford, CT, 06102, USA

    Kevin D. Ballard

  5. Department of Health Human Performance and Recreation, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR, 72701, USA

    Evan C. Johnson, Stavros A. Kavouras & Matthew S. Ganio

  6. Department of Kinesiology, University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AL, 35487, USA

    Jonathon E. Wingo

  7. Department of Kinesiology, Midwestern State University, Wichita Falls, TX, 76309, USA

    Keith H. Williamson

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  1. Brian R. Kupchak
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  2. Amy L. McKenzie
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  3. Hui-Ying Luk
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  4. Cathy Saenz
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  5. Laura J. Kunces
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  6. Lindsay A. Ellis
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  7. Jakob L. Vingren
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  8. Elaine C. Lee
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  9. Kevin D. Ballard
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  10. Evan C. Johnson
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  11. Stavros A. Kavouras
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  14. Keith H. Williamson
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  15. Lawrence E. Armstrong
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Brian R. Kupchak.

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Communicated by Narihiko Kondo.

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Kupchak, B.R., McKenzie, A.L., Luk, HY. et al. Effect of cycling in the heat for 164 km on procoagulant and fibrinolytic parameters. Eur J Appl Physiol 115, 1295–1303 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-015-3107-y

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