Creatine kinase activity in sickle cell disease

Abstract

Creatine kinase activity was measured in 28 patients in the steady state of sickle cell disease and ranged from 4-45 IU/1, comparable with that found in healthy adult caucasians. Creatine kinase activity was also measured in 14 patients admitted consecutively for the treatment of vasoocclusive sickle cell crises. Creatine kinase activity remained within the normal range in eight of these 14 patients throughout their admission; none had muscle pain or a chest syndrome. In the remaining six, three with muscle pain and three with a chest syndrome, increased activity was found on one or more days. A further 17 patients with vaso-occlusive sickle cell crises, associated with muscle pain, were studied. Creatine kinase activity was significantly raised in all 17, the mean creatine kinase activity for men was 578-8 IU/I and 210-6 IU/l for women, with the highest values (up to 1790 IU/1) found in those who had exercised before admission. Measurement of creatine kinase activity may therefore be a useful marker of muscle perturbation due to sickling.