OBJECTIVE: To provide evidence-based guidelines to general neurologists for the assessment of patients with pauci- or asymptomatic hyperCKemia. BACKGROUND: Recent epidemiologic studies show that up to 20% of 'normal' individuals have an elevated creatine kinase activity in the serum (sCK). The possibility of a subclinical myopathy is often raised, and patients may be unnecessarily denied treatment with statins. SEARCH STRATEGY: Electronic databases including Medline, the Cochrane Library and the American Academy of Neurology were searched for existing guidelines. Articles dealing with series of patients investigated for asymptomatic/pauci-symptomatic hyperCKemia and articles dealing with myopathies that can present with asymptomatic hyperCKemia were identified and reviewed. RESULTS: The only guidelines found were those approved by the Italian Association of Myology Committee, and the only relevant articles identified describe class IV studies. RECOMMENDATIONS: HyperCKemia needs to be redefined as values beyond 1.5 times the upper limit of normal (which itself needs to be appropriately defined). Pauci- or asymptomatic hyperCKemia with no apparent medical explanation may be investigated with a muscle biopsy if one or more of the following are present; the sCK is >or=3x normal, the electromyogram is myopathic or the patient is <25 years of age. In addition, women with sCK<3 times normal may be offered DNA testing because of the possibility of carrying a dystrophin mutation.
OBJECTIVE: To provide evidence-based guidelines to general neurologists for the assessment of patients with pauci- or asymptomatic hyperCKemia. BACKGROUND: Recent epidemiologic studies show that up to 20% of 'normal' individuals have an elevated creatine kinase activity in the serum (sCK). The possibility of a subclinical myopathy is often raised, and patients may be unnecessarily denied treatment with statins. SEARCH STRATEGY: Electronic databases including Medline, the Cochrane Library and the American Academy of Neurology were searched for existing guidelines. Articles dealing with series of patients investigated for asymptomatic/pauci-symptomatic hyperCKemia and articles dealing with myopathies that can present with asymptomatic hyperCKemia were identified and reviewed. RESULTS: The only guidelines found were those approved by the Italian Association of Myology Committee, and the only relevant articles identified describe class IV studies. RECOMMENDATIONS: HyperCKemia needs to be redefined as values beyond 1.5 times the upper limit of normal (which itself needs to be appropriately defined). Pauci- or asymptomatic hyperCKemia with no apparent medical explanation may be investigated with a muscle biopsy if one or more of the following are present; the sCK is >or=3x normal, the electromyogram is myopathic or the patient is <25 years of age. In addition, women with sCK<3 times normal may be offered DNA testing because of the possibility of carrying a dystrophin mutation.
Authors: Amber van Broekhoven; Niekbachsh Mohammadnia; Max J M Silvis; Jonathan Los; Aernoud T L Fiolet; Tjerk S J Opstal; Arend Mosterd; John W Eikelboom; Stefan M Nidorf; Charley A Budgeon; Elizabeth Byrnes; Willem A Bax; Jan G P Tijssen; Dominique P V de Kleijn; Peter L Thompson; Saloua El Messaoudi; Jan H Cornel Journal: Clin Drug Investig Date: 2022-10-08 Impact factor: 3.580
Authors: Francesco Brigo; Stanley C Igwe; Roberto Erro; Luigi Giuseppe Bongiovanni; Antonio Marangi; Raffaele Nardone; Michele Tinazzi; Eugen Trinka Journal: J Neurol Date: 2014-05-14 Impact factor: 4.849