title: Macroenzyme creatine kinase in the era of modern laboratory medicine.
abstract: Among the conditions in which creatine kinase (CK)-MB activity is elevated in the absence of myocardial injury or infarction, macroenzyme (macro) CK merits special attention from clinicians. We present 2 cases, 1 with macro CK type 1 and the other with macro CK type 2, to stress the common clinical situations and diagnostic dilemma that clinicians encounter when evaluating patients with macro CK. Moreover, the rare conditions associated with macro CK, and the phenomenon of spuriously high CK-MB activity out of proportion to total CK, are discussed. The biochemical characteristics, clinical significance and potential implications of macro CK are reviewed within the scope of modern laboratory medicine.
authors.affiliation: Division of Hematology and Oncology, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan, R.O.C.
authors.forename: Chun-Yu
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Yi-Chun
authors.initials: YC
authors.lastname: Lai
authors.forename: Yi-Chi
authors.initials: YC
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Cheng-Hwai
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Tzeng
authors.forename: Shou-Dong
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Lee
mesh_terms: D054058:Acute Coronary Syndrome / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003402:Creatine Kinase / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007527:Isoenzymes / Q000097:blood; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis*
chemical_list: D007527:Isoenzymes; D003402:Creatine Kinase