Creatine Phosphokinase (CPK) & CPK - MB Test
About CPK and CPK-MB test
The Creatine phosphokinase (CPK) test measures the level of CPK in your blood. CPK is an enzyme (protein) present in various body tissues like the heart, skeletal muscle, and brain. Higher than normal levels of CPK in your blood may be a sign of muscle injury, heart disease, and brain stroke. CPK is an isoenzyme (different forms of the same enzyme), which is found as CPK-MM (in the skeletal muscle), CPK-MB (in the heart), and CPK-BB (in the brain).
CPK-MB is an isoenzyme specifically found in the muscles of heart tissue. A high level of CPK- MB in your blood is an indication of damage to the heart muscle. CPK-MB test also indicates the functioning of the heart during recurrent heart attacks. Healthcare providers use this CPK and CPK-MB test to screen the level of CPK in your blood and detect any disease.
Creatine phosphokinase test is also known as
Creatine kinase test, CK test, Total CK test, CPK test
What is a CPK & CPK-MB test used for?
CPK & CPK- MB test is used in the diagnosis of
Muscular dystrophy (non-functioning of skeletal muscles)
Rhabdomyolysis (damage to striated muscle tissue)
Heart attack
Myocarditis (Inflammation of heart muscle)
Dermatomyositis (Inflammation of skeletal muscles with distinctive skin rash)
Brain stroke
Recurrent heart attacks
Who should get tested?
The CPK & CPK-MB test is recommended to be performed frequently for individuals with the following symptoms and risk factors
Tiredness
Dizziness
Nausea or vomiting
Sudden sweating
Muscle pain
Numbness or tingling sensation
Chest pain
Difficulty in breathing
Pain in the neck
Pain in the left arm
Swelling in your arms or legs
Having a dark-coloured urine
Test Preparation
No special preparation is required to take the CPK & CPK-MB test.
Interpretation of the results
The CPK range may vary according to the age, gender, health history, diagnostic centre and methodology used.
CPK (Normal Range)
|
Gender |
CPK Normal Range |
|
Male |
55-170 units/L |
|
Female |
30-135 units/L |
CPK-MB (Reference Range)
The normal reference range of serum CPK-MB is 3 to 5% of total CPK i.e. 5 to 25 IU/L.
Deviation from normal levels indicates the following:
· CPK & CPK-MB test is used by healthcare providers to help diagnose and monitor various causes of muscular diseases, heart attacks, and diseases of brain tissues.
· Higher-than-normal levels of CPK may be due to underlying conditions like:
o Injury to the brain or stroke
o Convulsions (seizures)
o Brain tumours
o Lung tissue necrosis (pulmonary infarction)
o Electric injuries
o Muscular dystrophy
o Muscle damage due to drugs
- Higher-than-normal levels of CPK-MB may be due to underlying conditions like:
o Heart attacks
o History of open heart surgery
o Injury to the heart (after a road accident)
o Heart muscle inflammation(Swelling)
Recurrent heart stroke
FAQs
What is the significance of the CPK & CPK-MB test?
The CPK & CPK-MB test determines the blood creatine phosphokinase level produced by various tissues of your body. The screening, monitoring, diagnosis, and follow-up of heart diseases as well as other medical conditions can all be done with a CPK & CPK-MB blood test.
What are the risks associated with the CPK & CPK-MB test?
There are no known risks. During a blood test, one may experience minor pain or bruising where the needle was inserted, but most symptoms will subside quickly.
What happens during the CPK & CPK-MB test?
During this blood test, a healthcare professional will take a small amount of blood from a vein in your arm, using a small needle, which is then collected in a test tube or vial. This usually completes within a few minutes.
What factors might affect my CPK & CPK-MB test results?
Factors like a diet rich in fatty acids, extreme workouts, using steroids, prolonged surgery, consuming medications which alter muscle functioning, microbial infections, blood clots due to nutritional deficiency and ageing may affect your creatine phosphokinase levels. So, it is recommended that one should consult a healthcare provider before getting a CPK & CPK-MB test.
5. What further tests I might require if I have an abnormal CPK&CPK-MB test result?
The level of your CPK test result will determine what kind of additional tests will be done. Your doctor might identify the cause of elevated CPK levels and discuss it with you. Further tests could consist of:
o Other blood and urine tests
o Troponin Test
o CPK isoenzymes, Electrophoresis
o Electrocardiogram(ECG)
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