The overtraining syndrome as a consequence of prolonged physical exercise leads to reversible episodes of substantially lowered physical strength in combination with an increased susceptibility to opportunistic infections which may lead to life threatening disease. There are no early indicators of a beginning overtraining syndrome.
It was the goal of a series of flow cytometric two colour immunophenotype measurements (CD45RO/CD4, CD45RO/CD8, CD3/CD16, CD3/HLA-DR, CD19) on peripheral blood lymphocytes of competition cyclists to search for signs of the gradual weakening of the immune system as early indicators of overtraining syndroms.
Since no significant changes of the usual % frequency values of the various lymphocyte populations were observed, an exhaustive analysis of the flow cytometric list mode files was performed with 5x34=170 database columns instead of only 5x4=20 database columns on % cell frequency analysis alone.
Standardized and automated data classification with the CLASSIF1 multiparameter data classification program permitted the >95% single case recognition of overtrained cyclists. The development of the overtraining syndrome was paralleled by a reversible increase of CD45RO antigen expression on the lymphocyte surface. Monitoring this increase with time may be a means to avoid the occurrence of overtraining syndromes in endurance athletes.
2. H Gabriel, A Urhausen, G Valet, U Heidelbach, W Kindermann: Overtraining and immune system: A prospective longitudinal study in endurance athletes. Med.Sci.Sports Exerc. 30:1151-1157(1998)