Creatine Kinase, Total

Blood creatinine level is measured as a test of kidney function to estimate the glomerular filtration rate (GFR), the rate of blood flow through the kidneys.

Creatine kinase is a type of enzyme that is predominantly found in muscles. Creatine kinase plays an important role in cellular energy metabolism, making a large amount of energy available for muscles to use them. There is often a small amount of creatine kinase in the blood which comes from skeletal muscles. Creatine kinase gets released into the blood in large amounts when there is a lot of muscle damage. This test measures the amount of creatine kinase in the blood in order to detect and diagnosis muscle inflammation and muscle damage.

This test is performed in following conditions such as:

• Muscle pain or aches
• Muscle weakness
• Dark urine
• Extensive crushing or penetration traumatic injuries
• Extensive burns

Also Known As: CK, CPK, Creatine Phosphokinase