Serum creatine phosphokinase levels in pigs reacting abnormally to halogenated anaesthetics.

Serum levels of creatine phosphokinase (CPK) were estimated in pigs. Among those known to react abnormally either to halothane alone or to halothane and suxamethonium most had very high levels of CPK. Twenty-four hours after five minutes' anaesthesia with halothane and oxygen a sustained, pronounced rise in the serum CPK occurred in some pigs-principally but not exclusively in the abnormal reactors. Estimation of the serum level of CPK may be a useful screening test for an abnormal hyperpyrexial response to halothane.