Increased MB-creatine kinase isoenzymes in an alcoholic population.

Using agarose gel electrophoresis MB-creatine kinase (MB-CK) activity was examined in the serum of 120 patients with acute alcohol intoxication admitted to a detoxification ward. Total CK activity was increased in 67 percent of patients and MB-CK activity was increased in 8.3 percent. Alcoholic patients also were studied by Sephadex chromatography and, in seven cases, MB-CK was greater than three standard deviations from the normal. Thus, this study demonstrates that acute alcohol intoxication is associated with increased MB-CK activity. These findings raise the possibility that excessive alcohol ingestion may lead to acute myocardial injury.