[Exertion-related disorders in body temperature regulation in 8 participants in the Dam-to-Dam run 1993].

In eight recreational runners (seven men and one woman, aged 16 to 50 years) participating in a 16 kilometer run, disturbances in thermoregulation were diagnosed. Six experienced sudden collapse without any prodromal signs, two were exhausted and had muscle spasms. Heat exhaustion was diagnosed in four runners, exertion-related hyperthermia in three and exertion-related heat stroke in one. As a complication the latter patient developed rhabdomyolysis with low grade intravascular coagulation and acute renal insufficiency. The most important therapy consists of cooling the patient, the most important preventive measures are wearing light clothing and drinking regularly during the run.