CREATINKINASE

Abstract

Creatine kinase (CK) catalyses a reaction in which creatine is phosphorylated by ATP, or in which used ATP is rebuilt by creatine phosphate in the reverse reaction. CK is a cellular enzyme which is mainly found in the heart muscle, the skeletal muscles, and in the brain. Three isoenzymes, of which the isoenzyme MB is specific for the heart muscle, can be separated electrophoretically. False positive activity increases can be triggered by certain intramuscularly injected drugs, especially by diazepam and pentazocin. CK is of decisive importance in the diagnosis of myocardial infarction and in Duchenne type muscular dystrophy. There is no activity increase in cases of neurogenic muscular atrophy.