Creatine Phosphokinase

Excerpt

Creatine phosphokinase (CPK), also known as creatine kinase (CK), is the enzyme that catalyzes the reaction of creatine and adenosine triphosphate (ATP) to phosphocreatine (PCr) and adenosine diphosphate (ADP). This CK enzyme reaction is reversible; ATP can be generated from PCr and ADP. The phosphocreatine created from this reaction is used to supply tissues and cells that require substantial amounts of ATP, like the brain, skeletal muscles, and the heart. CK is a central regulator of cellular energy homeostasis. Many conditions can cause derangement in CK levels, including rhabdomyolysis, heart disease, kidney disease, or medications. As such, it is a diagnostic indicator for specifically rhabdomyolysis and acute myocardial infarction (AMI), among other medical disorders.