Download PDF
Int J Sports Med 2007; 28(5): 381-385
DOI: 10.1055/s-2006-924365
Physiology & Biochemistry

© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Effects of Hemopure™ on Maximal Oxygen Uptake and Endurance Performance in Healthy Humans

M. J. Ashenden1 , Y. O. Schumacher2 , K. Sharpe3 , E. Varlet-Marie4 , M. Audran4
  • 1Science and Industry Against Blood Doping (SIAB) Research Consortium, Gold Coast, Australia
  • 2Department of Sports Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
  • 3Department of Mathematics and Statistics, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne. Australia
  • 4Biophysical and Bioanalysis Laboratory, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Montpellier I, Montpellier, France
Further Information

Publication History

Accepted after revision: May 10, 2006

Publication Date:
06 October 2006 (online)

Also available at
    Permissions and Reprints

Abstract

Haemoglobin-based oxygen carriers (HBOCs) such as Hemopure™ are touted as a tenable substitute for red blood cells and therefore potential doping agents, although the mechanisms of oxygen transport of HBOCs are incompletely understood. We investigated whether infusion of Hemopure™ increased maximal oxygen uptake (V·O2max) and endurance performance in healthy subjects. Twelve male subjects performed two 4-minute submaximal exercise bouts equivalent to 60 % and 75 % of V·O2max on a cycle ergometer, followed by a ramped incremental protocol to elicit V·O2max. A crossover design tested the effect of infusing either 30 g (6 subjects) or 45 g (6 subjects) of Hemopure™ versus a placebo. Under our study conditions, Hemopure™ did not increase V·O2max nor endurance performance. However, the infusion of Hemopure™ caused a decrease in heart rate of ∼ 10 bpm (p = 0.009) and an average increase in mean (∼ 7 mmHg) and diastolic blood pressure (∼ 8 mmHg) (p = 0.046) at submaximal and maximal exercise intensities. Infusion of Hemopure™ did not bestow the same physiological advantages generally associated with infusion of red blood cells. It is conceivable that under exercise conditions, the hypertensive effects of Hemopure™ counter the performance-enhancing effect of improved blood oxygen carrying capacity.

Key words

Blood doping - exercise - V·O2max - HBOC - athletes

References

  • 1 Brien A J, Simon T L. The effects of red blood cell infusion on 10-km race time.  JAMA. 1987;  257 2761-2765
    CrossrefPubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 2 Chang T M. Hemoglobin-based red blood cell substitutes.  Artif Organs. 2004;  28 789-794
    CrossrefPubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 3 Crago M S, West S D, McKenzie J E. Effects of diaspirin crosslinked hemoglobin infusion in treadmill-exercised swine.  Heart Vessels. 1999;  14 1-8
    PubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 4 Everitt B, Raber-Hesketh (ed) S. Analyzing Medical Data Using S-PLUS. New York; Springer-Verlag 2001
    Search in Google Scholar
  • 5 Gonzalez-Alonso J, Olsen D, Saltin B. Erythrocyte and the regulation of human skeletal muscle blood flow and oxygen delivery.  Circ Res. 2002;  91 1046-1055
    CrossrefPubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 6 Hughes G, Yancey E, Albrecht R, Locker P, Francom S, Orringer E, Antal E, Jacobs E. Hemoglobin-based oxygen carrier preserves submaximal exercise capacity in humans.  Clin Pharmacol Ther. 1995;  58 434-443
    CrossrefPubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 7 Jones M, Pedoe D. Blood doping - a literature review.  Br J Sports Med. 1989;  23 84-88
    PubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 8 Kasper S M, Grune F, Walter M, Amr N, Erasmi H, Buzello W, Bischoff A. The effects of increased doses of bovine hemoglobin on hemodynamics and oxygen transport in patients undergoing preoperative hemodilution for elective abdominal aortic surgery.  Anesth Analg. 1998;  87 284-291
    CrossrefPubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 9 Kasper S M, Walter M, Grune F, Bischoff A, Erasmi H, Buzello W. Effects of a hemoglobin-based oxygen carrier (HBOC‐201) on hemodynamics and oxygen transport in patients undergoing preoperative hemodilution for elective abdominal aortic surgery.  Anesth Analg. 1996;  83 921-927
    PubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 10 Kim H W, Greenburg A G. Artificial oxygen carriers as red blood cell substitutes: a selected review and current status.  Artif Organs. 2004;  28 813-828
    CrossrefPubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 11 Lasne F, Crepin N, Ashenden M, Audran M, de Ceaurriz J. Detection of hemoglobin-based oxygen carriers in human serum for doping analysis: screening by electrophoresis.  Clin Chem. 2004;  50 410-415
    PubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 12 Mortensen S P, Dawson E A, Yoshiga C C, Dalsgaard M K, Damsgaard R, Secher N H, Gonzalez-Alonso J. Limitations to systemic and locomotor limb muscle oxygen delivery and uptake during maximal exercise in humans.  J Physiol. 2005;  566 273-285
    CrossrefPubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 13 Nose Y. Is there a role for blood substitutes in civilian medicine: a drug for emergency shock cases?.  Artif Organs. 2004;  28 807-812
    CrossrefPubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 14 Schumacher Y O, Ashenden M J. Doping with artificial oxygen carriers - an update.  Sports Med. 2004;  34 141-150
    CrossrefPubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 15 Varlet-Marie E, Ashenden M, Lasne F, Sicart M T, Marion B, de Ceaurriz J, Audran M. Detection of hemoglobin-based oxygen carriers in human serum for doping analysis: confirmation by size-exclusion HPLC.  Clin Chem. 2004;  50 723-731
    PubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 16 Winslow R M. MP4, a new nonvasoactive polyethylene glycol-hemoglobin conjugate.  Artif Organs. 2004;  28 800-806
    CrossrefPubMedSearch in Google Scholar

MD Yorck Olaf Schumacher

Abteilung Sportmedizin
Medizinische Universitätsklinik Freiburg

Hugstetter Straße 55

79106 Freiburg

Germany

Phone: + 49 76 12 70 74 69

Fax: + 49 76 12 70 74 70

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