How Do You Treat High CPK Levels?
Treatment of high CPK, or creatine phosphokinase, levels involves treatment of the condition causing the elevation, according to Healthline. Normal CPK values are from 10 to 120 micrograms per liter or mcg/L.
CPK is a muscle cell enzyme found in heart and skeletal muscles and in brain cells. When cells in these locations are damaged, CPK is released into the bloodstream. Elevations in CPK levels can indicate damage has occurred in a particular area of the body. For example, elevated CPK-MB levels indicate that the heart has been damaged, which can result from a heart attack or viral myocarditis. An elevation in the CPK-MM is related to the skeletal muscles and can indicate trauma or intense exercise, notes Johns Hopkins Medicine.
Elevated CPK levels are found in patients with brain injury, stroke, delirium tremens, convulsions, electric shock, lung tissue death, myopathy, muscular dystrophy, or dermatomyositis, according to Healthline. There are several conditions that can cause a false positive elevation of CPK levels, including hyperthyroidism, hypothyroidism, rhabdomyolysis and pericarditis following a heart attack.
Generally, CPK levels are checked to diagnose a heart attack, determine the cause of chest pain, detect diseases of the muscles and determine the extent of muscular damage, according to Healthline.
