Key result
A 61-year-old woman remained completely asymptomatic despite persistently elevated serum creatine kinase levels up to 6,591 IU/l (>50-fold higher than normal) over a 2-year monitoring period.
Case Report (n=1)
No
Idiopathic hyperCKemia can present with extremely high CK levels (>50-fold normal) but maintain a benign, asymptomatic clinical course over a 2-year period.
Asymptomatic extreme hyperCKemia may prove idiopathic and benign after evaluation; leaves open standardized diagnostic and surveillance protocols.
High creatine kinase (CK) levels can be associated with many disorders, including neuromuscular, cardiac, metabolic, endocrine and traumatic. Idiopathic hyperCKemia is a diagnostic dilemma for physicians even though its long-term prognosis is usually benign. We report a case of a Caucasian 61-year-old woman who presented as completely asymptomatic to her general practitioner with a serum CK (sCK) level at 6,122 IU/l. A complete diagnostic evaluation, including physical and laboratory examinations, electromyogram and muscle biopsy were negative for any neuromuscular or other disorder. Two years later the patient remains asymptomatic, active and overall healthy but sCK levels remain elevated, ≤6,591 IU/l (>50-fold higher than normal values).
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Klinis et al. (2016) conducted a case report in Asymptomatic hyperCKemia (n=1). Clinical monitoring was evaluated on Serum creatine kinase levels and symptom development. A 61-year-old woman remained completely asymptomatic despite persistently elevated serum creatine kinase levels up to 6,591 IU/l (>50-fold higher than normal) over a 2-year monitoring period.
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