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Review
. 2019 Sep 25;57(10):1450-1473.
doi: 10.1515/cclm-2018-1107.

Laboratory medicine: health evaluation in elite athletes

Barbara Lombardo  1   2 , Viviana Izzo  3 , Daniela Terracciano  4 , Annaluisa Ranieri  1   2 , Cristina Mazzaccara  1   2 , Fabio Fimiani  5 , Arturo Cesaro  5 , Luca Gentile  2 , Eleonora Leggiero  2 , Raffaela Pero  1   6 , Barbara Izzo  7 , Andrea Carlo D'Alicandro  8 , Danilo Ercolini  6   9 , Giovanni D'Alicandro  10 , Giulia Frisso  1   2 , Lucio Pastore  1   2   6 , Paolo Calabrò  5 , Olga Scudiero  1   2   6
Affiliations
Free article
Review

Laboratory medicine: health evaluation in elite athletes

Barbara Lombardo et al. Clin Chem Lab Med. .
Free article

Abstract

The need to evaluate the health status of an athlete represents a crucial aim in preventive and protective sports science in order to identify the best diagnostic strategy to improve performance and reduce risks related to physical exercise. In the present review we aim to define the main biochemical and haematological markers that vary significantly during and after sports training to identify risk factors, at competitive and professional levels and to highlight the set up of a specific parameter's panel for elite athletes. Moreover, we also intend to consider additional biomarkers, still under investigation, which could further contribute to laboratory sports medicine and provide reliable data that can be used by athlete's competent staff in order to establish personal attitudes and prevent sports injuries.

Keywords: athlete’s health; biomarkers; sports medicine.

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