Endurance Training on Congenital Valvular Regurgitation

BACKGROUND: Both intense endurance training and valvular regurgitation place a volume load on the right and left ventricles, potentially leading to dilation, but their effects in combination are not well-known. PURPOSE: The purpose of this case series is to describe the combined volume load of intense endurance athletic training and regurgitant valvular disease as well as the challenging assessment of each component's cardiovascular effect. METHODS: In this article, the clinical course of three elite endurance athletes with congenital valvular disease were reviewed. RESULTS: A swimmer with aortic regurgitation, a cyclist with aortic regurgitation, and a cyclist with pulmonary regurgitation were found to have severe dilation of the associated ventricles despite continuing to train at an elite level without symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: Because of the cumulative effects of endurance training and valvular regurgitation, each athlete manifested ventricular dilation out of proportion to their valvular disease and symptoms. Although the effects of congenital valvular disease and athletic remodeling on ventricular dilation have been thoroughly studied individually, their cumulative effect is not well understood. This complicates the assessment of athletes with valvular regurgitation and underscores the need for athlete-specific recommendations for valve replacement.