Open AccessElevation of creatine kinase in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
Author(s) -
Harrington Thomas M.,
Cohen Marc D.,
Bartleson John D.,
Ginsburg William W.
Publication year - 1983
Publication title -
arthritis & rheumatism
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1529-0131
pISSN - 0004-3591
DOI - 10.1002/art.1780260212
Subject(s) - polymyositis , amyotrophic lateral sclerosis , liter , medicine , creatine kinase , muscle weakness , creatine , gastroenterology , disease
Serum creatine kinase (CK) levels were recorded in 100 patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). CK concentrations were elevated in 43% of the patients, with a mean level of 240 U/liter and a range of 59–1,327 U/liter (male normal <95 U/liter, female normal <59 U/liter). All patients with elevated CK had muscle weakness. Seven patients were initially misdiagnosed as having polymyositis and given high dose corticosteroids without clinical benefit, prior to the diagnosis of ALS. Such diagnostic confusion can be avoided by an awareness that CK levels cannot be used to reliably differentiate between ALS and primary muscle disease such as polymyositis.