Creatine Kinase (CK) (Serum (s), frozen)

Increased:

• Myocardial diseases (with increased CK-MB); skeletal muscle affections (muscular cramps, epileptic seizure, artery embolism, malignant hyperthermia, muscular dystrophy, inflammatory muscular diseases, muscle traumas, heavy physical work); hypothyrosis, uterine surgery, diabetic coma, liver, pancreatic and gastro-intestinal diseases, isoenzymes CK-BB or CK-MM)

Decreased:

• Hyperthyrosis and thyrotoxic crisis

Notes:

CK is the most important enzyme to detect a damage of the cardiac or skeletal musculature After an acute damage, the values usually increase after about 4 h. If a damage of the cardiac musculature is suspected, CK-MB or better the cardiac-specific and more sensitive troponin T should be determined additionally.

Constantly elevated levels indicate the presence of a so-called macro CK which is clinically irrelevant. The determination of CK isoenzymes should be requested.

Any heavy physical work will lead to a partly strongly increased CK values, even in healthy persons, therefore it may be reasonable to perform a check after a three days' rest.

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