Immunoglobulin-associated creatine kinase masquerading as macro-creatine kinase type 2 in a statin user

Macro-creatine kinase (CK) is a cause of falsely elevated CK. Macro-CK type 1 is immunoglobulin-associated CK; type 2 is polymeric mitochondrial-CK. An elderly asymptomatic lady had an elevated CK level after receiving statin therapy. Her CK gel electrophoresis analysis demonstrated coexisting macro-CK type 1 and type 2 patterns. Further analysis by immunofixation and mixing this patient's serum with CK control material revealed an IgG-associated macro-CK that mimicked the electrophoretic pattern of macro-CK type 2. This highly unusual discovery suggests the possibility of the misinterpretation of macro-CK type 1 as macro-CK type 2. Falsely elevated CK is still common despite modern laboratory instrumentation and should be investigated.