Differential diagnostic importance of the creatine kinase isoenzyme pattern in severe traumatic head lesions.

Total CK and the isoenzyme CK-MB were determined simultaneously in the internal jugular vein and a cubital vein in 8 patients with acute traumatic lesions of the cranium. In these studies no relevant release of CK isoenzymes from cerebrum could be established. Acute traumatic lesions of the cranium therefore do not affect the value of the CK-MB determination in the internal intensive care medicine for differentiating elevated CK levels between skeletal and heart muscle affections.