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Int J Sports Med 2004; 25(8): 569-574
DOI: 10.1055/s-2004-821118
Physiology & Biochemistry

© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Is Hemoglobin Desaturation Related to Blood Viscosity in Athletes During Exercise?

P. Connes2 , D. Bouix2 , F. Durand2 , P. Kippelen2 , J. Mercier,2 , C. Prefaut2 , J. F. Brun2 , C. Caillaud1
  • 1UPRES EA 2991 “Sport, Performance et Santé”, Montpellier, France
  • 2UPRES EA 701 “Physiologie des Interactions”, Service Central de Physiologie, Hôpital Arnaud de Villeneuve, Montpellier, France
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Publication History

Accepted after revision: November 3, 2003

Publication Date:
26 July 2004 (online)

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Abstract

Several studies have suggested that athletes with low hemoglobin saturation during exercise may experience impaired pulmonary blood gas exchange during maximal exercise. Blood viscosity may be implicated in exercise-induced pulmonary hemorrhage in race horses. We hypothesized that blood rheology may contribute to impaired gas exchange and reduced hemoglobin saturation during exercise in humans. A group of 20 highly trained endurance athletes participated in this study, 9 with low hemoglobin saturation during exercise (Low-SpO2 group) and 11 with normal hemoglobin saturation (High-SpO2 group). All subjects performed a progressive exercise test conducted to V·O2max. Venous blood was sampled at rest, 50 % V·O2max and maximal exercise. Blood viscosity (ηb) was measured at very high shear rate (1000 s-1) and 37 °C with a falling ball viscometer. The erythrocyte rigidity coefficient, “Tk”, was calculated using the Dintenfass equation. At rest, no significant difference in ηb was observed between the two groups (3.00 ± 0.08 mPa · s vs. 3.01 ± 0.04 mPa · s for the Low-SpO2 and High-SpO2 group, respectively). At 50 % V·O2max and maximal exercise, ηb was higher in Low-SpO2 (p < 0.01). Tk decreased in High-SpO2 (p < 0.01) but remained unchanged in the other group during testing. The greater increase in ηb in the Low-SpO2 group during exercise may therefore have been due to the lack of reduction in Tk. As suggested by previous studies, the greater increase in blood viscosity in athletes with low hemoglobin saturation may lead to vascular shear stress. Whether this could impair the blood gas barrier and result in exercise-induced hypoxemia requires further study.

Key words

Hypoxemia - red blood cell - hemorheology - endurance

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Corinne Caillaud

UPRES EA “Sport, Performance et Santé”

700 Avenue du Pic Saint Loup

34090 Montpellier

France

Email: corinne.caillaud@univ-montpl.fr