An enzyme which is proving to be of value in the investigation and diagnosis of muscular dystrophy, in which it is found in the blood in greatly increased amounts.
An enzyme that catalyzes the reversible transfer of high-energy phosphate between creatine and phosphocreatine and between adenosine diphosphate (ADP) and adenosine triphosphate (ATP). Different isoforms predominate in different tissues (skeletal muscle [CK-MM], cardiac muscle [CK-MB], and the brain [CK-BB]), aiding in differential diagnosis of conditions in which this enzyme is present in the bloodstream.
Creatine phosphokinase (CPK) represents a group of three closely related enzymes (isozymes) crucially involved in energy transference within skeletal muscles. In the event of muscle injury, these enzymes are released into the bloodstream, marking their presence as indicative of muscular damage.
An enzyme, which is a protein capable of modifying the rate of a chemical reaction within the body, is present in muscle tissue. Following damage to muscle cells, including those within the cardiac muscle, creatine kinase is released into the bloodstream. Diagnostic tests can detect elevated levels of this enzyme. Various forms of creatine kinase exist in different muscle types. If blood tests reveal heightened levels of the variant specific to the heart muscle, it may indicate the occurrence of a myocardial infarction (heart attack). Conversely, increased levels of the form found in skeletal muscles may signify a range of conditions, ranging from muscle injury to disorders like muscular dystrophy.