Creatine kinase is elevated in which of the following conditions?

Creatine kinase is elevated in which of the following conditions?

• A. Anemia
• B. Rhabdomyolysis
• C. Myocardial infarction
• D. Muscular dystrophy

Answer: (B)

Creatine kinase is released into the bloodstream when muscle cells are damaged. In rhabdomyolysis, there is extensive breakdown of skeletal muscle, so a large amount of CK leaks out and its level in the blood becomes markedly elevated. The other conditions don’t produce such a dramatic acute surge: anemia isn’t driven by muscle injury, muscular dystrophy can raise CK but typically as a chronic finding rather than an abrupt spike, and myocardial infarction can raise CK from heart muscle but the most characteristic and substantial rise due to widespread muscle injury is seen with rhabdomyolysis.

Creatine kinase is released into the bloodstream when muscle cells are damaged. In rhabdomyolysis, there is extensive breakdown of skeletal muscle, so a large amount of CK leaks out and its level in the blood becomes markedly elevated. The other conditions don’t produce such a dramatic acute surge: anemia isn’t driven by muscle injury, muscular dystrophy can raise CK but typically as a chronic finding rather than an abrupt spike, and myocardial infarction can raise CK from heart muscle but the most characteristic and substantial rise due to widespread muscle injury is seen with rhabdomyolysis.