Blood work/CBC

[cabezon]

I got some blood work done on November 19. I had run the off road marathon the day before. I had the appointment scheduled before I committed to the marathon. The blood work was done to check on Testosterone levels, which were confirmed low at 145. However the doctor is concerned as my Red Blood cell count was low, the EOS was high and the AST was high as well. He thinks that my liver is distressed. I've never been anemic, and my tests when I donate blood have been good in that area.

I have heard that long distance running breaks down red blood cells? the EOS could be the hay fever of running in fields of flowers? (it was a great place for a marathon) and that the AST is an indicator of high stress on the muscles?

I have not seen anything in the running literature, but what I found was on a veterinarian site. I am waiting on results from a second test. That test included a hepatitis test as well.

Any thoughts?

[Sportsmedjosh]

I haven't heard of much on this topic, what I do keep up with on runners and blood is RBC count and blood viscosity, to transport oxygen. A quick pubmed search brought this up.

Changes in erythropoiesis, iron metabolism and oxidative stress after half-marathon.

Duca L, Da Ponte A, Cozzi M, Carbone A, Pomati M, Nava I, Cappellini MD, Fiorelli G.

Department of Internal Medicine, University of Milan and IRCCS Ospedale Maggiore Hospital, Mangiagalli e Regina Elena Foundation, Milan, Italy.

OBJECTIVE: In marathon runners changes in red blood cell count, haematocrit and haemoglobin in relation to haemodilution have been reported. Moreover, it has been hypothesized that strenuous exercise induces oxidant stress through several different mechanisms. This study investigated the haematological variables, iron status and oxidative indices before, immediately and 48 h after a race in 8 healthy trained males aged 33-44 years running a 21-km marathon in 79 +/- 3 min. METHODS: The haematological parameters were determined by standard procedures. Erythropoietin and soluble-transferrin receptor were evaluated immunoenzymatically. Nontransferrin-bound iron (NTBI) was assayed by high-performance liquid chromatography after nitrilotriacetic acid chelation. Malonyldialdehyde (MDA) concentration was assayed colorimetrically. RESULTS: The total number of reticulocytes rose significantly after the run with a significant increase in the high-RNA-content fraction (14 +/- 5, p < 0.0006). Erythropoietin rose by 26% (15.0 +/- 2.8 mU/ml, p < 0.004) and by 25% (14.9 +/- 2.13 mU/ml, p < 0.02) immediately and 48 h after the race, respectively. Serum iron and serum ferritin remained unchanged but NTBI and serum MDA increased significantly immediately after running (1.16 +/- 0.40 mmol/l, p < 0.0008; 0.76 +/- 0.16 mmol/l, p < 0.0001). Significant positive correlations at any time between MDA and polymorphonuclear neutrophils (p = 0.0005), MDA and NTBI (p = 0.0018), polymorphonuclear neutrophils and NTBI (p = 0.0008) and between lactate dehydrogenase and NTBI (p = 0.0212) were observed. CONCLUSIONS: The erythropoietic changes observed in marathon runners are the results of several interacting mechanisms that involve either the haemopoietic system per se or erythrocyte haemolysis and oxidative stress.

If you would like I can pull the full article for you.