VASCULAR AND CARDIAC REMODELING IN WORLD-CLASS PROFESSIONAL CYCLISTS

Background Numerous studies have demonstrated that left ventricular (L V) hypertrophy is often associated with conditioning, Methods and Resu lts The aim of the study was to evaluate cardiac and carotid artery ch anges induced by pra professional cycling. We collected M-mode left ve ntricle and B-mode right common carotid artery data from 149 male prof essional cyclists before the 1995 ''Tour de France'' race and 52 male control subjects. LV mass indexed to body surface area in cyclists was double that in control subjects, with no overlap of 95% confidence in tervals (cyclists 100.9 to 187 g/m(2) and control subjects 51.8 to 96. 3 g/m(2)). Both mean arterial diameter and mean arterial diastolic int ima-media thickness (IMT) were 13% higher in cyclists than in control subjects, with overlap of 95% confidence intervals (For arterial IMT 0 .45 to 0.65 mm in cyclists and 0.38 to 0.60 mm in control subjects). C onclusions our results suggest that intense cycling has an effect on t he cardiovascular system, more pronounced on the left ventricle and le ss pronounced on large arteries. Nevertheless, athletic training shoul d be considered as a potential determinant of carotid modification.