Cardiac Enzyme Studies

CK (Creatine Kinase), CPK (Creatine Phosphokinase), Creatine Kinase (CK), Creatine Phosphokinase (CPK), Creatine Phosphokinase-MB Isoenzyme (CPK-MB), Heart Attack Enzymes, Lactic Acid Dehydrogenase (LDH), LDH-1 (Lactate Dehydrogenase Isoenzymes)

Why It Is Done

Cardiac enzyme studies are done to:

  • Determine whether you are having a heart attack or a threatened heart attack (unstable angina) if you have chest pain, shortness of breath, nausea, sweating, and abnormal electrocardiography results.
  • Check for injury to the heart after bypass surgery.
  • Determine if a procedure, such as percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), or a medicine to dissolve the blockage (thrombolytic medicine) has successfully restored blood flow through a blocked coronary artery.

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Author: Douglas Dana
Maria G. Essig, MS, ELS
Robin Parks, MS
Last Updated: November 2, 2007
Medical Review: Anne C. Poinier, MD - Internal Medicine
E. Gregory Thompson, MD - Internal Medicine
Stephen Fort, MD, MRCP, FRCPC - Interventional Cardiology

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Topic Contents
 Test Overview
Arrow PointerWhy It Is Done
 How To Prepare
 How It Is Done
 How It Feels
 Risks
 Results
 What Affects the Test
 What To Think About
 References
 Credits