Skip to main content
NCBI home page
British Journal of Sports Medicine logoLink to British Journal of Sports Medicine
. 1995 Mar;29(1):61–65. doi: 10.1136/bjsm.29.1.61

Leucocyte and erythrocyte counts during a multi-stage cycling race ('the Milk Race').

P Keen 1, D A McCarthy 1, L Passfield 1, H A Shaker 1, A J Wade 1
PMCID: PMC1332221  PMID: 7788222

Abstract

Venous blood samples were taken from eight competitors in mid-evening after a racing day, and in the early morning before the next day's race, three times during the course of the Milk Race, 1992. These were used to gather information about the changes in circulating leucocyte levels in response to the exceptionally high sustained daily workload required during a major multi-stage race. The primary objective was to provide knowledge of 'normal' values against which future clinical judgements of abnormality might be made in these unusual circumstances. During the race, estimated energy output was about 25 MJ (6000 kCal)/day. The mean total circulating leucocyte numbers (per litre of blood), and those of individual leucocyte classes (neutrophil, lymphocyte, monocyte, eosinophil and basophil) were all inside the normal range both in the morning and in the evening. Evening counts were, however, 30-50% higher than morning counts, for all classes except eosinophils. We conclude that individual clinical decisions about leucocyte levels can best be made using normal (sedentary man) values if a morning sample is taken.

Full text

PDF
61

Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

  1. BARTTER F. C., DELEA C. S. A map of blood and urinary changes related to circadian variations in adrenal cortical function in normal subjects. Ann N Y Acad Sci. 1962 Oct 30;98:969–983. doi: 10.1111/j.1749-6632.1962.tb30612.x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  2. Brittin G. M., Brecher G., Johnson C. A., Elashoff R. M. Stability of blood in commonly used anticoagulants. Use of refrigerated blood for quality control of the Coulter Counter Model S. Am J Clin Pathol. 1969 Dec;52(6):690–694. doi: 10.1093/ajcp/52.6.690. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  3. Costill D. L., Fink W. J. Plasma volume changes following exercise and thermal dehydration. J Appl Physiol. 1974 Oct;37(4):521–525. doi: 10.1152/jappl.1974.37.4.521. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  4. Dahl R. Diurnal variation in the number of circulating eosinophil leucocytes in normal controls and asthmatics. Acta Allergol. 1977 Oct;32(5):301–303. doi: 10.1111/j.1398-9995.1977.tb02571.x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  5. Espersen G. T., Elbaek A., Ernst E., Toft E., Kaalund S., Jersild C., Grunnet N. Effect of physical exercise on cytokines and lymphocyte subpopulations in human peripheral blood. APMIS. 1990 May;98(5):395–400. doi: 10.1111/j.1699-0463.1990.tb01049.x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  6. Guglielmini C., Casoni I., Patracchini M., Manfredini F., Grazzi G., Ferrari M., Conconi F. Reduction of Hb levels during the racing season in nonsideropenic professional cyclists. Int J Sports Med. 1989 Oct;10(5):352–356. doi: 10.1055/s-2007-1024927. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  7. Harrison M. H. Effects on thermal stress and exercise on blood volume in humans. Physiol Rev. 1985 Jan;65(1):149–209. doi: 10.1152/physrev.1985.65.1.149. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  8. Haus E., Lakatua D. J., Swoyer J., Sackett-Lundeen L. Chronobiology in hematology and immunology. Am J Anat. 1983 Dec;168(4):467–517. doi: 10.1002/aja.1001680406. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  9. MALEK J., SUK K., BRESTAK M., MALY V. Daily rhythm of leukocytes, blood pressure, pulse rate, and temperature during pregnancy. Ann N Y Acad Sci. 1962 Oct 30;98:1018–1041. doi: 10.1111/j.1749-6632.1962.tb30616.x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  10. McCarthy D. A., Dale M. M. The leucocytosis of exercise. A review and model. Sports Med. 1988 Dec;6(6):333–363. doi: 10.2165/00007256-198806060-00002. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  11. McCarthy D. A., Grant M., Marbut M., Watling M., Wade A. J., Macdonald I., Nicholson S., Melsom R. D., Perry J. D. Brief exercise induces an immediate and a delayed leucocytosis. Br J Sports Med. 1991 Dec;25(4):191–195. doi: 10.1136/bjsm.25.4.191. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  12. McCarthy D. A., Macdonald I., Grant M., Marbut M., Watling M., Nicholson S., Deeks J. J., Wade A. J., Perry J. D. Studies on the immediate and delayed leucocytosis elicited by brief (30-min) strenuous exercise. Eur J Appl Physiol Occup Physiol. 1992;64(6):513–517. doi: 10.1007/BF00843760. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  13. Mills J. N. Human circadian rhythms. Physiol Rev. 1966 Jan;46(1):128–171. doi: 10.1152/physrev.1966.46.1.128. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  14. Nieman D. C., Berk L. S., Simpson-Westerberg M., Arabatzis K., Youngberg S., Tan S. A., Lee J. W., Eby W. C. Effects of long-endurance running on immune system parameters and lymphocyte function in experienced marathoners. Int J Sports Med. 1989 Oct;10(5):317–323. doi: 10.1055/s-2007-1024921. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  15. Thomson S. P., McMahon L. J., Nugent C. A. Endogenous cortisol: a regulator of the number of lymphocytes in peripheral blood. Clin Immunol Immunopathol. 1980 Dec;17(4):506–514. doi: 10.1016/0090-1229(80)90146-4. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  16. UHRBRAND H. The number of circulating eosinophils; normal figures and spontaneous variations. Acta Med Scand. 1958 Mar 7;160(2):99–104. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

Articles from British Journal of Sports Medicine are provided here courtesy of BMJ Publishing Group

RESOURCES