PSEUDO-ABNORMAL PULMONARY VENOUS FLOW IN TRAINED ATHLETES

Pulmonary venous flow was recorded by thransthoracic pulsed Doppler ec hocardiography in 10 endurance trained male athletes and in 10 age mat ched sedentary male controls. The ratio of peak systolic (S) to peak d iastolic (D) flow velocity was much lower in athletes than in controls (0.8 +/- 0.22 vs. 1.13 +/- 0.37 p < 0.05). 5 out of 10 athletes had v alues less than 0.82 which was the lowest value in the control group. Athletes also hat significantly higher mitral flow EIA ratios and lowe r heart rates. Physical fitness caused by endurance training should be acknowledged as one of the causes for an abnormally low S/D ratio.