What is creatine kinase?
Creatine kinase (CK) is an enzyme that occurs in all muscle cells of the body and in the brain. It ensures that certain energy stores in the muscle cells, the adenosine triphosphates (ATP), are sufficiently available:
- CK-MB (in cardiac muscle cells)
- CK-MM (in muscle cells of the musculoskeletal system)
- CK-BB (in the nerve cells of the brain)
When to determine creatine kinase?
Creatine kinase concentration is used to diagnose many diseases, such as:
- Myocardial infarction
- Coronary heart disease (CHD)
- Heart muscle inflammation
- Muscle atrophy of trunk and extremities (muscular dystrophies)
- Muscle dissolution (rhabdomyolysis, triggered by seizures, drugs, or other causes)
After intensive sports, especially after strength training or extreme endurance exercise, as well as after childbirth, surgery, vaccinations or a fall, creatine kinase is often detectable in the blood at increased levels without being a disease.
Creatine kinase reference values
|
Age |
CK normal value |
|
2 to 4 days |
< 652 U/l |
|
5 days to 5 months |
< 295 U/l |
|
6 months to 2 years |
< 229 U/l |
|
3 to 5 years |
< 150 U/l |
|
6 to 11 years |
male: < 248 U/l female: < 157 U/l |
|
12 to 17 years |
male: < 269 U/l female: < 124 U/l |
|
Adult |
male: < 171 U/l female: < 145 U/l |
For the creatine kinase subtype CK-MB, a normal range of < 25 U/l applies to all ages and genders.
When is the CK value elevated?
CK-MB
For example, the CK-MB value plays a major role in the diagnosis of a heart attack. The severity of myocardial damage can also be assessed by CK-MB.
CK-MM
What to do if creatine kinase is elevated?
If increased creatine kinase is detectable in the blood, the cause must first be clarified. If creatine kinase is elevated due to pregnancy, after birth or during growth, it is checked again at intervals. People whose CK level is greatly increased after endurance or muscle strength training should reduce the training intensity.
