Creatine kinase isoenzymes and prostatic carcinoma: metastatic disease or acute myocardial infarction?

The measurement of creatine kinase isoenzymes, particularly the MB fraction, is a major determinant for acute myocardial infarction. Patients with metastatic carcinoma of the prostate may have an elevated serum creatine kinase-BB fraction, which by some automated laboratory techniques may be read mistakenly as creatine kinase-MB. We report such a case and discuss the creatine kinase isoenzyme measurement.