title: The prevalence and prognosis of minimally elevated creatine kinase-myocardial band activity in elderly patients with syncope.
abstract: Syncope in elderly patients is often the initial manifestation of myocardial infarction (MI). Small elevations in creatine kinase-myocardial band (CK-MB) activity following syncope may represent MI, transient myocardial hypoperfusion, or insignificant background activity. To determine the prevalence and prognostic significance of minimal CK-MB elevations in elderly patients with syncope, serial serum CK-MB activities and subsequent survival experiences were determined for elderly syncope patients with and without MI, and for age-matched nonsyncopal controls. While all syncope patients with MI by specific clinical criteria had one or more abnormal CK-MB levels (greater than 5 U/L) and died within 31 months, 10% of syncope patients without MI and 10% of controls had abnormal CK-MB with no impact on mortality. Using standard clinical laboratory techniques, minimal elevation in CK-MB was found in 10% of elderly subjects with and without syncope and probably had no prognostic significance.
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003402:Creatine Kinase / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D007527:Isoenzymes; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000175:diagnosis; D011379:Prognosis; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013575:Syncope / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000209:etiology
chemical_list: D007527:Isoenzymes; D003402:Creatine Kinase