Exertional heat stroke: the runner's nemesis

• Published in: Canadian Medical Association journal Vol. 122; no. 10; pp. 1144 - 1150
• Main Authors: Hart, L. E, Egier, B. P, Shimizu, A. G, Tandan, P. J, Sutton, J. R
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Canada Can Med Assoc 24-05-1980
• Subjects: Acute Kidney Injury - etiology; Adult; Athletic Injuries - complications; Athletic Injuries - physiopathology; Blood Chemical Analysis; Body Temperature; Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation - etiology; Heart Diseases - etiology; Heat Exhaustion - complications; Heat Exhaustion - physiopathology; Heat Exhaustion - therapy; Humans; Liver Diseases - etiology; Male; Myoglobinuria - etiology; Neurologic Manifestations; Running
• ISSN: 0008-4409

Heat stroke in distance runners is increasing in frequency. A case is reported of a 41-year-old man who collapsed during a 10-km "fun run" held when the temperature was 31.6 degrees C and the humidity 80%. Acute renal failure (serum creatinine level 1530 mumol/l [17.3 mg/dl]), rhabdomyolysis, disseminated intravascular coagulation and hepatic damage complicated the clinical picture. Repeated peritoneal dialysis and one cycle of hemodialysis because of a very high serum level of uric acid (1.23 mmol/l [20.7 mg/dl]) were required. Although the illness was prolonged, recovery was almost complete, and 4 months after the man's collapse the serum creatinine level had fallen to 133 mumol/l (1.5 mg/dl).