Creatine Kinase (CK)

Indications for performing this test:  Creatine kinase is sometimes included in a serum biochemistry profile.  It is an enzyme of muscle origin and specifically indicates muscle injury or muscle disease.

 Creatine kinase is an important muscle enzyme that is responsible for catalyzing the phosphorylation of creatine in the following reaction.
                                          

                                            ATP
                                                    ADP
                                    Creatine    Creatine Phosphate
                                                  (Creatine Kinase)

      When the muscle is resting creatine stores a phosphate from an ATP molecule.  The reaction is reversed when the muscle is working and has a greater need for ATP.  Creatine kinase can be found primarily in skeletal muscle, but there is also activity in cardiac muscle and brain, and small amounts in the intestines, uterus, urinary bladder, and kidney.

 

Interpretation of elevated creatine kinase:

  • Serum CK can be expected to rise within a few hours of severe muscle trauma.  If the trauma is acute, with  no further damage, CK levels will return to normal in 24-48 hours.
  • Persistent elevations of serum CK indicate active muscular disease.
  • Irritating intramuscular injections may cause elevations of CK.
  • Incorrect venipuncture will elevate serum CK.
  • Strenuous exercise in both dogs and horses will cause elevated serum CK.
  • Shipping stress will also cause elevated serum CK.

Intramuscular injection


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