BACK TOTOP Browse A-ZSearchBrowse A-ZABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ0-9 E-mail FormEmail ResultsName:Email address:Recipients Name:Recipients address:Message: Print-FriendlyBookmarksbookmarks-menuCreatine phosphokinase testCPK testCreatine phosphokinase (CPK) is an enzyme in the body. It is found mainly in the heart, brain, and skeletal muscle. This article discusses the test to measure the amount of CPK in the blood.EnzymeEnzymes are complex proteins that cause a specific chemical change. For example, they can help break down the foods we eat so the body can use them....Read Article Now Book Mark Article How the Test is Performed A blood sample is needed. This may be taken from a vein. The procedure is called a venipuncture. VenipunctureVenipuncture is the collection of blood from a vein. It is most often done for laboratory testing.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article This test may be repeated over 2 or 3 days if you are a patient in the hospital. How to Prepare for the Test No special preparation is needed most of the time.Tell your health care provider about any medicines you are taking.Drugs that can increase CPK measurements include the following:Alcohol Amphotericin B Certain anesthetics Cocaine Fibrate drugs Statins Steroids, such as dexamethasoneThis list is not all-inclusive. How the Test will Feel You may feel slight pain when the needle is inserted to draw blood. Some people feel only a prick or stinging sensation. Afterward, there may be some throbbing. Why the Test is Performed When the total CPK level is very high, it most often means there has been injury or stress to muscle tissue, the heart, or the brain. Muscle tissue injury is most likely. When a muscle is damaged, CPK leaks into the bloodstream. Finding which specific form of CPK is high helps determine which tissue has been damaged.This test may be used to:Diagnose heart attack Heart attackMost heart attacks are caused by a blood clot that blocks one of the coronary arteries. The coronary arteries bring blood and oxygen to the heart. ...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Evaluate cause of chest pain Chest painChest pain is discomfort or pain that you feel anywhere along the front of your body between your neck and upper abdomen.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Determine if or how badly a muscle is damaged Detect dermatomyositis, polymyositis, and other muscle diseases DermatomyositisDermatomyositis is a disease that involves muscle inflammation and a skin rash. Polymyositis is a similar inflammatory condition that also involves ...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article PolymyositisPolymyositis and dermatomyositis are rare inflammatory diseases. (The condition is called dermatomyositis when it involves the skin. ) These disease...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Tell the difference between malignant hyperthermia and postoperative infection Malignant hyperthermiaMalignant hyperthermia (MH) is a disease that causes a fast rise in body temperature and severe muscle contractions when someone receives general ane...Read Article Now Book Mark Article The pattern and timing of a rise or fall in CPK levels can be significant in making a diagnosis. This is particularly true if a heart attack is suspected. In most cases other tests are used instead of or with this test to diagnose a heart attack. Normal Results Total CPK normal values: 10 to 120 micrograms per liter (mcg/L) Normal value ranges may vary slightly among different laboratories. Some labs use different measurements or test different samples. Talk to your provider about the meaning of your specific test results. What Abnormal Results Mean High CPK levels may be seen in people who have:Brain injury or stroke Convulsions ConvulsionsA seizure is the physical changes in behavior that occurs during an episode of specific types of abnormal electrical activity in the brain. The term ...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Delirium tremens Dermatomyositis or polymyositis Electric shock Electric shockAn electrical injury is damage to the skin or internal organs when a person comes into direct contact with an electrical current.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Heart attack Inflammation of the heart muscle (myocarditis) Lung tissue death (pulmonary infarction) Muscular dystrophies Myopathy Rhabdomyolysis RhabdomyolysisRhabdomyolysis is the breakdown of muscle tissue that leads to the release of muscle fiber contents into the blood. These substances are harmful to ...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article TraumaOther conditions that may give positive test results include:Hypothyroidism HypothyroidismHypothyroidism is a condition in which the thyroid gland does not make enough thyroid hormone. This condition is often called underactive thyroid....ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Hyperthyroidism Pericarditis following a heart attackPericarditis following a heart attackPericarditis is inflammation and swelling of the covering of the heart (pericardium). It can occur in the days or weeks following a heart attack....ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Risks Risks associated with having blood drawn are slight but may include:Excessive bleeding Fainting or feeling lightheaded Hematoma (blood accumulating under the skin) Infection (a slight risk any time the skin is broken) Considerations Other tests should be done to find the exact location of muscle damage.Factors that may affect test results include cardiac catheterization, intramuscular injections, trauma to muscles, recent surgery, and heavy exercise.Cardiac catheterizationCardiac catheterization involves passing a thin flexible tube (catheter) into the right or left side of the heart. The catheter is most often insert...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Open ReferencesReferencesBorg K, Ensrud E. Myopathies. In: Frontera WR, Silver JK, Rizzo TD Jr, eds. Essentials of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. 4th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2019:chap 136.Hamel J, Statland JM. Muscle disease. In: Wing EJ, Schiffman FJ, eds. Cecil Essentials of Medicine. 10th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2022:chap 124.Mccullough PA. Interface between renal disease and cardiovascular illness. In: Libby P, Bonow RO, Mann DL, Tomaselli GF, Bhatt DL, Solomon SD, eds. Braunwald's Heart Disease: A Textbook of Cardiovascular Medicine. 12th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2022:chap 101.Pincus MR, Carty RP. Clinical enzymology. In: McPherson RA, Pincus MR, eds. Henry's Clinical Diagnosis and Management by Laboratory Methods. 24th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2022:chap 21.AllVideoImagesTogBlood test - illustration Blood is drawn from a vein (venipuncture), usually from the inside of the elbow or the back of the hand. A needle is inserted into the vein, and the blood is collected in an air-tight vial or a syringe. Preparation may vary depending on the specific test.Blood testillustrationBlood test - illustration Blood is drawn from a vein (venipuncture), usually from the inside of the elbow or the back of the hand. A needle is inserted into the vein, and the blood is collected in an air-tight vial or a syringe. Preparation may vary depending on the specific test.Blood testillustration Tests for Creatine phosphokinase test Creatine phosphokinase testCPK isoenzymes testAldolase blood testRelated Information Enzyme(Special Topic)Heart attack(Condition)Chest pain(Symptoms)Dermatomyositis(Condition)Polymyositis - adult(Condition)Malignant hyperthermia(Condition)Muscular dystrophy(Condition)Spinal cord trauma(Condition)Seizures(Symptoms)Electrical injury(Injury)Heart attack and acute coronary syndrome - InDepth(In-Depth)Coronary artery disease - InDepth(In-Depth)Hypothyroidism - InDepth(In-Depth) Review Date: 1/1/2023 Reviewed By: Michael A. Chen, MD, PhD, Associate Professor of Medicine, Division of Cardiology, Harborview Medical Center, University of Washington Medical School, Seattle, WA. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team. The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed medical professional should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Links to other sites are provided for information only -- they do not constitute endorsements of those other sites. No warranty of any kind, either expressed or implied, is made as to the accuracy, reliability, timeliness, or correctness of any translations made by a third-party service of the information provided herein into any other language. © 1997- A.D.A.M., a business unit of Ebix, Inc. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited. © 1997- All rights reserved. A.D.A.M. content is best viewed in IE9 or above, Firefox and Google Chrome browser.Content is best viewed in IE9 or above, Firefox and Google Chrome browser.
Creatine phosphokinase testCPK testCreatine phosphokinase (CPK) is an enzyme in the body. It is found mainly in the heart, brain, and skeletal muscle. This article discusses the test to measure the amount of CPK in the blood.EnzymeEnzymes are complex proteins that cause a specific chemical change. For example, they can help break down the foods we eat so the body can use them....Read Article Now Book Mark Article How the Test is Performed A blood sample is needed. This may be taken from a vein. The procedure is called a venipuncture. VenipunctureVenipuncture is the collection of blood from a vein. It is most often done for laboratory testing.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article This test may be repeated over 2 or 3 days if you are a patient in the hospital. How to Prepare for the Test No special preparation is needed most of the time.Tell your health care provider about any medicines you are taking.Drugs that can increase CPK measurements include the following:Alcohol Amphotericin B Certain anesthetics Cocaine Fibrate drugs Statins Steroids, such as dexamethasoneThis list is not all-inclusive. How the Test will Feel You may feel slight pain when the needle is inserted to draw blood. Some people feel only a prick or stinging sensation. Afterward, there may be some throbbing. Why the Test is Performed When the total CPK level is very high, it most often means there has been injury or stress to muscle tissue, the heart, or the brain. Muscle tissue injury is most likely. When a muscle is damaged, CPK leaks into the bloodstream. Finding which specific form of CPK is high helps determine which tissue has been damaged.This test may be used to:Diagnose heart attack Heart attackMost heart attacks are caused by a blood clot that blocks one of the coronary arteries. The coronary arteries bring blood and oxygen to the heart. ...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Evaluate cause of chest pain Chest painChest pain is discomfort or pain that you feel anywhere along the front of your body between your neck and upper abdomen.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Determine if or how badly a muscle is damaged Detect dermatomyositis, polymyositis, and other muscle diseases DermatomyositisDermatomyositis is a disease that involves muscle inflammation and a skin rash. Polymyositis is a similar inflammatory condition that also involves ...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article PolymyositisPolymyositis and dermatomyositis are rare inflammatory diseases. (The condition is called dermatomyositis when it involves the skin. ) These disease...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Tell the difference between malignant hyperthermia and postoperative infection Malignant hyperthermiaMalignant hyperthermia (MH) is a disease that causes a fast rise in body temperature and severe muscle contractions when someone receives general ane...Read Article Now Book Mark Article The pattern and timing of a rise or fall in CPK levels can be significant in making a diagnosis. This is particularly true if a heart attack is suspected. In most cases other tests are used instead of or with this test to diagnose a heart attack. Normal Results Total CPK normal values: 10 to 120 micrograms per liter (mcg/L) Normal value ranges may vary slightly among different laboratories. Some labs use different measurements or test different samples. Talk to your provider about the meaning of your specific test results. What Abnormal Results Mean High CPK levels may be seen in people who have:Brain injury or stroke Convulsions ConvulsionsA seizure is the physical changes in behavior that occurs during an episode of specific types of abnormal electrical activity in the brain. The term ...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Delirium tremens Dermatomyositis or polymyositis Electric shock Electric shockAn electrical injury is damage to the skin or internal organs when a person comes into direct contact with an electrical current.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Heart attack Inflammation of the heart muscle (myocarditis) Lung tissue death (pulmonary infarction) Muscular dystrophies Myopathy Rhabdomyolysis RhabdomyolysisRhabdomyolysis is the breakdown of muscle tissue that leads to the release of muscle fiber contents into the blood. These substances are harmful to ...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article TraumaOther conditions that may give positive test results include:Hypothyroidism HypothyroidismHypothyroidism is a condition in which the thyroid gland does not make enough thyroid hormone. This condition is often called underactive thyroid....ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Hyperthyroidism Pericarditis following a heart attackPericarditis following a heart attackPericarditis is inflammation and swelling of the covering of the heart (pericardium). It can occur in the days or weeks following a heart attack....ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Risks Risks associated with having blood drawn are slight but may include:Excessive bleeding Fainting or feeling lightheaded Hematoma (blood accumulating under the skin) Infection (a slight risk any time the skin is broken) Considerations Other tests should be done to find the exact location of muscle damage.Factors that may affect test results include cardiac catheterization, intramuscular injections, trauma to muscles, recent surgery, and heavy exercise.Cardiac catheterizationCardiac catheterization involves passing a thin flexible tube (catheter) into the right or left side of the heart. The catheter is most often insert...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Open ReferencesReferencesBorg K, Ensrud E. Myopathies. In: Frontera WR, Silver JK, Rizzo TD Jr, eds. Essentials of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. 4th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2019:chap 136.Hamel J, Statland JM. Muscle disease. In: Wing EJ, Schiffman FJ, eds. Cecil Essentials of Medicine. 10th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2022:chap 124.Mccullough PA. Interface between renal disease and cardiovascular illness. In: Libby P, Bonow RO, Mann DL, Tomaselli GF, Bhatt DL, Solomon SD, eds. Braunwald's Heart Disease: A Textbook of Cardiovascular Medicine. 12th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2022:chap 101.Pincus MR, Carty RP. Clinical enzymology. In: McPherson RA, Pincus MR, eds. Henry's Clinical Diagnosis and Management by Laboratory Methods. 24th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2022:chap 21.