Evaluation of plasma creatine phosphokinase as a diagnostic dilemma

Evaluation of plasma creatine phosphokinase as a diagnostic dilemma

N.E. Evdokimova¹, O.V. Tsygankova^1,2, L.D. Latyntseva¹

¹Institute of Internal and Preventive Medicine, the branch of the Federal Research Center "Institute of Cytology and Genetics of the Siberian Department of the Russian Academy of Sciences", Novosibirsk

²Novosibirsk State Medical University, Novosibirsk

The article analyzes the literature data and current recommendations of international expert communities on conditions accompanied by an increased level of total creatine phosphokinase (CPK) and its isoforms in plasma. Attention is paid not only to the most common causes (such as acute myocardial infarction, acute stroke, dermatomyositis/polymyositis, hypothyroidism, paraneoplastic syndrome) but also to other less common pathological conditions (intake of a number of medications, hypoparathyroidism, neuromuscular diseases, obstructive sleep apnea syndrome, etc.), that a doctor of any specialty may encounter. Besides, there are reference points given for the interpretation of the plasma CPK level and its isoforms, depending on laboratory methods of determination, racial and gender-age characteristics, and physical development of the patient. The possible causes of unreliable results in the CPK dete rmination are associated with the presence of type 1 and 2 macrocomplexes, as well as CPK-BB in the blood serum, the identification of which is possible during electrophoresis. Their detection can be a reflection of autoimmune and tumor processes. Adding that, the review presents an algorithm of actions for doctors in case of suspected statin-associated muscle symptoms and asymptomatic hyperCKemia based on the clinical recommendations.

Keywords: creatine phosphokinase, CPK, acute myocardial infarction, statin-associated muscle symptoms, muscular dystrophy, hypothyroidism, idiopathic inflammatory myopathies, paraneoplastic syndrome.

For citation: Evdokimova N.E., Tsygankova O.V., Latyntseva L.D. Evaluation of plasma creatine phosphokinase as a diagnostic dilemma. RMJ. 2021;2:18–25.