Summary

Background:

Exertional heat stroke (EHS) is common among individuals engaged in high-intensity physical activity. It can lead to long-term organ damage and be a life-threatening condition when diagnosed and treated incorrectly.

Objectives:

To track the changes in biomarkers among EHS patients, to suggest a standardized protocol of clinically relevant biomarkers to be followed during hospitalization

Methods:

We conducted a retrospective analysis on biomarker changes in seven EHS patients (aged 18–25 years) who were hospitalized for a minimum of 84 hours. Diagnosis of heat stroke was based on extreme body temperature and neurological deficits. Biomarkers indicative of kidney function, liver function, coagulation, muscle breakdown, and systemic inflammation during their hospitalization were analyzed.

Results:

The initial average rectal temperature (T_re) was 41.1°C. Patients were cooled to approximately 38.5°C before being transferred to the emergency department (ED). Within the first 24–36 hours of hospitalization, biomarker levels reach peak levels depending on EHS severity. Renal biomarkers rose to 1.5–3 times normal values, while transaminases increased 7–15 times. Creatine phosphokinase, indicating muscle injury, reached an average of 100 times its reference range. Within 24–72 hours. all biomarker levels were normalized.

Conclusions:

There is often a gap between the initial temperature of an EHS patient and the temperature recorded at ED admission after cooling. Accurate assessment is context-specific and requires precise biomarker follow-up. Clinical evaluation should continue for at least 48 hours to track organ damage and guide prognosis.