CK-MB
Also written as: CK-MB — Creatine Kinase-MB
Creatine kinase-MB isoenzyme, a cardiac-specific enzyme released during myocardial injury. Less sensitive than troponin but still used in certain clinical contexts.
Full Definition
Creatine kinase-MB (CK-MB) is the cardiac-specific isoenzyme of creatine kinase that is released into the bloodstream when cardiac muscle cells are damaged. While troponin has largely replaced CK-MB as the preferred cardiac biomarker due to superior sensitivity and specificity, CK-MB remains useful in certain clinical scenarios such as detecting reinfarction or assessing reperfusion success. CK-MB levels typically rise within 3-12 hours after myocardial injury, peak at 12-24 hours, and return to normal within 48-72 hours. The enzyme can also be elevated in skeletal muscle injury, though to a lesser extent.
Usage
Usage note: Use hyphen in CK-MB; specify units (ng/mL or U/L) when reporting values.
In Context
- "Serial CK-MB levels showed a typical rise and fall pattern consistent with acute myocardial infarction." — Laboratory results interpretation
- "The patient's CK-MB returned to baseline 72 hours post-procedure, indicating successful reperfusion." — Post-catheterization follow-up