CPK (creatine phosphokinase)
Edited by: Joe Hing Kwok Chu
CPK is an enzyme that is contained in skeletal muscle, smooth muscle, and cardiac
muscle.
Creatine phosphokinase is released into the bloodstream in increased
quantities if a muscle is injured. Creatine phosphokinase can be fractionated so
that specific measurements can be made for blood levels of creatine
phosphokinase that comes exclusively from myocardiac infarction (necrosis of
heart muscle). It is used in detection of acute myocardiac infarction,
reinfarction, or extension infarction and in monitoring for myocardial ischemia
or injury after cardiac surgery and coronary angioplasty.