Creatine kinase and creatine kinase-MB isoenzyme during and after exercise testing in normal and obese young people

We report creatine kinase (CK) and CK-MB values during a cycloergometric test up to maximal work capacity in 10 normal subjects aged 20 to 39 years (mean body mass index, 22 kg/m2) and 11 obese patients aged 17 to 42 years (mean body mass index, 41 kg/m2), all without any cardiorespiratory diseases. Total CK was significantly higher in obese patients. The CK-MB was not significantly different between the two groups, except at the first recovery when it was increased in obese patients and decreased in normal subjects. These results could be due to more important total stress of the total musculature, especially cardiac, and especially cardiac musculature in obese patients during a physical effort. Considering the mean values of total CK of our obese patients, it may be possible that they have myocardial damage at percentages of CK-MB less than those of lean subjects generally accepted at more than 4 percent. Moreover, in obese heart patients myocardial distress during exercise testing may be present despite heart rate at peak exercise beneath the theoretic maximal.