Serum creatine kinase B concentrations in acute cerebrovascular diseases.

Serum creatine kinase B (CKB) concentrations were measured every 12 hours for five days in 38 patients during acute cerebrovascular diseases and in nine controls. Mean CKB concentration was 6.2 +/- 0.8 ng/mL. The fluctuation of the CKB concentration following ischemic stroke was as notable as the elevation immediately after the ischemic event. The two abnormalities were observed in 13 of 17 patients with acute cerebral infarction, and the extent of abnormalities roughly correlated with the volume of tissue damage. The profiles were normal for patients with transient vascular events. Patients with subarachnoid hemorrhage demonstrated wide fluctuation along with high CKB concentration. Although transient elevation of the CKB concentration in some patients with subarachnoid hemorrhage was observed after angiography or clinical worsening, the fluctuation in patients with ischemic stroke was not associated with worsening of neurologic conditions or recurrence of ischemic events.