Int J Sports Med 2011; 32(2): 147-150
DOI: 10.1055/s-0030-1268463
Clinical Sciences

© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

The Impact of Acute Gastroenteritis on Haematological Markers Used for the Athletes Biological Passport – Report of 5 cases

Y. O. Schumacher1 , T. Pottgiesser1
  • 1Department Sportmedizin, Medizinische Universitätsklinik Freiburg, Germany
Further Information

Publication History

accepted after revision October 15, 2010

Publication Date:
25 November 2010 (online)

Abstract

The haematological module of the “Athletes Biological Passport” (ABP) is used to detect blood doping through the longitudinal variation of blood variables, such as haemoglobin concentration (Hb). Sporting federations have opened disciplinary procedures against athletes based on ABP results. Suspicious athletes try to explain the variations in their blood values with dehydration caused by gastrointestinal (GI) problems. The aim of the present report is to describe haemoglobin concentration, a key variable of the ABP, during acute gastroenteritis in athletes. 5 athletes with severe gastroenteritis were studied in retrospective. Blood test results (Hb, white blood cell count (WBC) and differential, CRP) obtained on hospital admission for GI problems were compared to data obtained from the same athletes in states of good health on previous occasions. During GI problems, athletes displayed marked inflammatory constellations with increased CRP and typical WBC shifts. Hb was not affected and remained mostly unchanged. This is in line with basic physiologic fluid regulation, where plasma volume is kept constant, even under conditions of severe dehydration. It is therefore unlikely that fluid loss associated with gastroenteritis will cause athletes blood data to reach levels of abnormality that will be suspicious of blood doping.

References

  • 1 Atmar RL, Opekun AR, Gilger MA, Estes MK, Crawford SE, Neill FH, Graham DY. Norwalk virus shedding after experimental human infection.  Emerg Infect Dis. 2008;  14 1553-1557
  • 2 Costill DL, Cote R, Fink W. Muscle water and electrolytes following varied levels of dehydration in man.  J Appl Physiol. 1976;  40 6-11
  • 3 Dill DB, Costill DL. Calculation of percentage changes in volumes of blood, plasma, and red cells in dehydration.  J Appl Physiol. 1974;  37 247-248
  • 4 Eastwood A, Hopkins WG, Bourdon PC, Withers RT, Gore CJ. Stability of hemoglobin mass over 100 days in active men.  J Appl Physiol. 2008;  104 982-985
  • 5 Graham DY, Jiang X, Tanaka T, Opekun AR, Madore HP, Estes MK. Norwalk virus infection of volunteers: new insights based on improved assays.  J Infect Dis. 1994;  170 34-43
  • 6 Harriss DJ, Atkinson G. International Journal of Sports Medicine – Ethical Standards in Sport and Exercise Science Research.  Int J Sports Med. 2009;  30 701-702
  • 7 Koo HL, Ajami NJ, Atmar RL, Dupont HL. Noroviruses: The leading cause of gastroenteritis worldwide.  Discov Med. 2010;  10 61-70
  • 8 Nose H, Mack GW, Shi XR, Nadel ER. Shift in body fluid compartments after dehydration in humans.  J Appl Physiol. 1988;  65 318-324
  • 9 Sawka MN. Physiological consequences of hypohydration: exercise performance and thermoregulation.  Med Sci Sports Exerc. 1992;  24 657-670
  • 10 Sawka MN, Convertino VA, Eichner ER, Schnieder SM, Young AJ. Blood volume: importance and adaptations to exercise training, environmental stresses, and trauma/sickness.  Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2000;  32 332-348
  • 11 Sottas PE, Robinson N, Saugy M. The athlete's biological passport and indirect markers of blood doping.  Handb Exp Pharmacol. 2010;  305-326
  • 12 WADA. . WADA Athlete Passport Operating Guidelines.  WADA 2010; 

Correspondence

Dr. Yorck Olaf Schumacher

Abteilung Sportmedizin

Medizinische Universitätsklinik

Freiburg

Hugstetter Str. 55

79106 Freiburg

Germany

Phone: +49/761/270 74 73

Fax: +49/761/270 74 70

Email: olaf@msm1.ukl.uni-freiburg.de

    >