Serum creatine kinase activity is not a reliable marker for muscle damage in conditions associated with low extracellular glutathione concentration

• Published in: Clinical chemistry (Baltimore, Md.) Md.), 1998-05, Vol.44 (5), p.939-943
• Main Authors: Gunst, Johan J, Langlois, Michel R, Delanghe, Joris R, De Buyzere, Marc L, Leroux-Roels, Geert G
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Biological and medical sciences; Clinical Enzyme Tests; Creatine Kinase - blood; Enzyme Stability; Extracellular Space - metabolism; Female; Fructose-Bisphosphate Aldolase - blood; Glutathione - blood; Humans; Investigative techniques, diagnostic techniques (general aspects); Male; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Multiple Organ Failure - blood; Multiple Organ Failure - pathology; Muscle Weakness - diagnosis; Muscle Weakness - pathology; Muscle, Skeletal - enzymology; Muscle, Skeletal - metabolism; Muscle, Skeletal - pathology; Muscular Atrophy - diagnosis; Muscular Atrophy - pathology; Myoglobin - blood; Oxidation-Reduction; Pathology. Cytology. Biochemistry. Spectrometry. Miscellaneous investigative techniques; Sulfhydryl Compounds - chemistry; Urinary system
• ISSN: 0009-9147; 1530-8561
• DOI: 10.1093/clinchem/44.5.939

Creatine kinase (CK, EC 2.7.3.2) assays usually contain thiol-reducing compounds to restore the enzyme activity. In this study, we investigated the effect of endogenous extracellular glutathione on serum CK activity. We examined CK activity and glutathione concentrations in serum from 200 healthy subjects (107 males, 93 females) and 38 patients with multiple organ failure, muscle wasting, and low serum CK activity (