Sports
anemia is a common risk for athletes. Intravasclar
hemolysis is the principal source of an accelerated turnover of erythrocytes in sportsmen. The
hemolysis induces some biochemical and hematological modifications; in particular, high concentrations of total and indirect (unconjugated)
bilirubin could be reported in professional athletes. We recruited 24 rugby players of the Italian National Team. In these athletes we measured hematological parameters, including mean sphered cell volume (MSCV) by means of Coulter LH 750 (Beckman Coulter, Brea, CA, USA), beside biochemical parameters, including
bilirubin and
haptoglobin. We observed differences in the athletes' indirect
bilirubin between the blood drawing performed before the start of training and competitions and the one performed at the end of the competition season. The
bilirubin was increased during competition season from 7% to 329% when compared with the baseline value measured before training and competitions. MSCV, in contrast, decreased from a mean of 88.4 fL to 86 fL. The MSCV decrease in association with an indirect
bilirubin increase is a specific sign of erythrocyte destruction, and specific training and competitions schemes and diet or
therapy modifications should be decided according to their values. The modifications of MSCV are correlated with those of
haptoglobin and
hemoglobin, but not with
reticulocytosis.