Serum muscle-specific enolase in progressive muscular dystrophy and other neuromuscular diseases.

Serum muscle-specific enolase ( MSE , beta beta and alpha beta enolases) levels were determined in 162 patients with progressive muscular dystrophy (PMD) and other neuromuscular diseases by means of an enzyme immunoassay method. The relationships were examined between serum MSE , creatine kinase (CK) and other markers of muscle disease. Serum MSE was strikingly increased in Duchenne muscular dystrophy, and this elevation was more prominent in younger patients. Serum MSE was also increased in other types of PMD and certain other diseases. Serum MSE showed the highest correlation with CK. In the PMD group, the frequency of cases with elevated MSE was the same as in CK. These results indicated that serum MSE may well be a specific marker of muscle disease on a par with CK.