The relationship between respiratory function and urinary leukotriene E4 in winter sports

Abstract

Since cysteinyl leukotrienes (cysLTs) play an important role in the development and maintenance of exercise-induced bronchoconstriction (EIB), special interest was paid to their level in athletes. The aim of the study was to investigate urinary LT E4 level in adolescent EIB-positive and EIB-negative athletes in different periods of the annual training cycle. Skiers and biathlonists aged 12 – 19 were studied in precompetitive (n=92) and competitive (n=78) periods. Control group included 30 healthy volunteers not involved in sports. Pulmonary function test was analyzed at baseline and 1, 5, and 10 minutes after the training or competition at subfreezing temperature. Pre-exercise urinary LT E4 level was measured by ELISA. Pre-exercise LT E4 level was significantly higher in athletes in competitive period (117.9±13.0 ng/mkmol/l) compared to those in precompetitive period (64.6±3.5 ng/mkmol/l, p Conclusion: Higher levels of urinary LT E4 in competitive winter sport athletes, as well as observed correlations may be due to bronchial mucosa damage and consequent inflammation as a result of prolonged intensive training at subfreezing ambient temperatures. Those inflammatory changes may not necessarily be accompanied by EIB development.