What conditions other than myopathies are associated with an elevated CK level?
Normal CK levels vary by race and gender with African American men having the highest values.
HyperCKemia is defined as asymptomatic or paucisymptomatic elevations in CK level.
Elevated CK could be a sign of a latent neuromuscular disease but there are many causes for this including:
• Exercise (especially if vigorous or unaccustomed)
• Increased muscle bulk
• Muscle trauma (needle injection, EMG, surgery, seizures, edema, or contusion)
• Viral illnesses
• Acute kidney disease
• Metabolic disturbances (hyponatremia, hypokalemia, hypophosphatemia)
• Drug use (including alcohol and cholesterol-lowering agents)
• Eating licorice
• Endocrine disorders (hypo/hyperthyroidism, hypoparathyroidism)
• Malignant hyperthermia
• Neurogenic disease (e.g., amyotrophic lateral sclerosis)
• Benign hereditary CK elevation
Typically CK levels are increased less than threefold in these conditions, whereas CK levels greater than fivefold often suggest an underlying myopathic etiology.
