High Levels of CPK

[Elle7772]

My dearest friend found herself in the E.R. last night with great pain and heaviness in her right arm and a strange chemical taste in her mouth.  After an EKG & blood tests, the doctors advised that she has very high levels of CPK in her blood.  A CAT scan came back with no abnormalities shown.  She is a bit overweight and takes medication for high blood pressure and a low dosage anti-depressant.  Any ideas for a source or reason for the high CPK would be appreciated as the doctors in the E.R. could only recommend that she see a neurologist within the next 4-5 days.

[Brooke_38]

Hello...


CPK isoenzymes are performed when the total CPK level is elevated. Isoenzyme testing can help differentiate the source of the damaged tissue.

CPK is an enzyme found predominantly in the heart, brain, and skeletal muscle. CPK is composed of 3 isoenzymes that differ slightly in structure:

CPK-1 (also called CPK-BB) is concentrated in the brain and lungs
CPK-2 (also called CPK-MB) is found mostly in the heart
CPK-3 (also called CPK-MM) is found mostly in skeletal muscle

Because the CPK-1 isoenzyme is predominately found in the brain and lungs, injury to either of these organs (for example, stroke or lung injury due to a pulmonary embolism) are associated with elevated levels of this isoenzyme.

CPK-2 levels rise 3 - 6 hours after a heart attack. If there is no further damage to the heart muscle, the level peaks at 12 - 24 hours and returns to normal 12 - 48 hours after tissue death. CPK-2 levels do not usually rise with chest pain caused by angina, pulmonary embolism (blood clot in the lung), or congestive heart failure.

The CPK-3 isoenzyme is normally responsible for almost all CPK enzyme activity in healthy people. When this particular isoenzyme is elevated, it usually indicates injury or stress to skeletal muscle.

I wish that I could give you a more definitive explanation regarding what is going on. Based on the Dr suggestions that she see a neurologist, it could be related to central nervous system injury or possibly some kind of inflammatory muscle disease.

I hope that she gets to the root of what's happening and that she feels better.:)

[Elle7772]

Thanks so much for your comment and the wealth of information in re:  elevated CPK levels and the different types, etc.  It's more than I've been able to find in my own web-searches and I passed the info on to my BFF.  She's printing out your comments and taking it with her when she goes to see the neurologist on Wednesday, so she'll have a reference for some of her questions and concerns.  Thanks again!!!