Cerebrospinal fluid creatine kinase in acutely psychotic patients.

Significantly elevated serum creatine phosphokinase concentrations have been demonstrated in 70% of patients with acute psychosis. Elevations in spinal fluid creatine phosphokinase (CPK) activity have been reported in several neurological diseases, often in association with otherwise normal routine spinal fluid studies. Spinal fluid and serum were obtained simultaneously from 11 patients with acute psychosis, the majority being schizophrenic. Although the serum CPK was elevated in eight of the 11 subjects, spinal fluid glucose, protein, colloidal gold, and CPK were normal in all cases. The theoretical implications of these results are discussed.