PHYSIOLOGICAL INTRAVASCULAR HEMOLYSIS OF EXERCISE. HEMOGLOBINEMIA AND HEMOGLOBINURIA FOLLOWING CROSS-COUNTRY RUNS

Abstract

Hemoglobinemia was observed in 5 of 11 young athletes who ran 2.6 to 2.8 miles, in 5 of 11 athletes who ran 4.5 to 5.1 miles, and in 18 of 22 men who ran 26.2 miles. Hemoglobinuria was observed in 1 of these athletes on 3 occasions after 5-mile runs. Hemoglobinuria occurred in 4 of 22 men who ran 26.2 miles; these urines were light brownish to dark burgundy red. Further observations on 1 of these 4 marathon runners showed the occurrence of hemoglobinuria again after a 20-mile run. Hemoglobinemia and hemoglobinuria disappears in a few hrs. after the end of the run. Erythrocyte fragility was normal. It has been calculated that the amt. of blood destroyed intravascularly is very small. Hemoglobinemia, sometimes accompanied by hemoglobinuria, occurs in man with sufficient frequency after strenuous runs to be considered physiological under these conditions.