Evaluation of CK and CK-MB in alcohol abuse subjects with recent heavy consumption.
We analyzed CK and CK-MB levels over 24 h in 15 male subjects admitted for alcohol detoxification following recent heavy ingestion. None had clinical or electrocardiographic evidence of myocardial ischemia or infarction. The mean 0-hour serum alcohol level +/- SD was 342 +/- 101 mg/dl. CK levels were measured by Kodak Ektachem and Abbott IMx assays, and CK-MB levels were determined by these assays and the Hybritech isoenzyme test. In 36% of the patients elevated 0-hour CK levels by the IMx and Ektachem assays were observed. The CK levels measured every 8 h decreased so that by 24 h CK was elevated in 1 patient by the Ektachem assay and in 2 by the IMx assay. Only 1 patient (7%) had an elevated 0-hour CK-MB value by two of the three assays, and it is unclear whether the source was cardiac or extracardiac. We conclude that: (1) elevated CK levels are common in heavy alcohol use patients without evidence of myocardial ischemia; (2) CK values over the first 24 h are decremental, not rising and falling as is typical of myocardial infarction and (3) current isoenzyme immunoassays eliminate a cardiac cause for elevated CK in most of these patients. These findings may assist in the evaluation of alcoholic patients with chest pain.
Osborn
L A
LA
University of New Mexico School of Medicine and University Hospital, Albuquerque 87131, USA.
Rossum
A
A
Standefer
J
J
Jackson
J
J
Skipper
B
B
Beeson
C
C
Crawford
M H
MH
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000097:blood*; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000097:blood / Q000201:enzymology*; D003402:Creatine Kinase / Q000097:blood*; D000431:Ethanol / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D007527:Isoenzymes; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013053:Spectrophotometry / Q000379:methods
D007527:Isoenzymes; D000431:Ethanol; D003402:Creatine Kinase