Is hypertension associated with a greater increase in creatine kinase activity following cycling exercise? A case study

Abstract

We describe discrepant behavior of serum creatine kinase (CK) activity during and after cycling in a hypertensive athlete when compared to the healthy athletes from the same team of endurance cyclists. Heart Rate (HR), Blood Pressure (BP), Perceived Exertion (PE) and serum CK activity were evaluated before, during and after 150 km indoor cycling. The results showed that there were no differences between the hypertensive athlete and the healthy athletes in time trial (186.3 min vs. 179.1 ± 14.9 min), HR (159.3 ± 11.4 bpm vs. 169.5 ± 7.8 bpm respectively) and PE (6.3 ± 1.5 vs. 6.3 ± 1.3). Systolic BP was higher in hypertensive athlete before, during and after the exercise. Serum CK activity was higher (+47%) at baseline and exhibited a higher increase (> +200%) after exercise. Our finding shed light on a hypothesis regarding the interindividual variability of serum CK activity and its possible interaction with hypertension.