AIRWAY CELLS IN SWIMMERS: A CASE REPORT AND A REVIEW OF THE LITERATURE

Abstract. Background. Inflammatory cells are increased in the airways of non-asthmatic endurance athletes without clear evidence of activation. Their role and the mechanisms involved in their recruitment into the airways, however, are still poorly understood. Previous studies suggest that habitual training and exercise duration may be critical factors in determining airway cell counts and composition. Aim. To assess the effects of very prolonged endurance exercise on airway cells we studied a well-trained non-asthmatic amateur swimmer who covered the distance of 34.6 km between Lipari (Eolian Islands) and Capo d'Orlando (Northern coast of Sicily) in 15 hours. Results. Induced sputum, collected at baseline and 12 hours after the trial, showed a very high percentage of neutrophils (98% and 82.5%, respectively). Moreover, eosinophils were slightly increased after the trial, similar to previous data collected in a group of swimmers after a competition in the sea. In peripheral blood, leukocytosis and neutrophilia, release of muscle enzymes and evidence of systemic inflammatory activation were also found. Conclusions. These data confirm that endurance exercise affects both airway and peripheral blood cells, and suggest a modulating role of exercise duration in neutrophil recruitment into the airways.