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[Creatine kinase and isoenzymes in full-term newborn and premature infants]
Insights
Serum creatine kinase (CK) activity differs between full-term and premature infants. However, creatine kinase-BB (CK-BB) levels are comparable, suggesting consistent normal values for this isoenzyme in newborns.
Area of Science:
- Biochemistry
- Neonatal Physiology
- Clinical Chemistry
Background:
- Serum creatine kinase (CK) is an enzyme crucial for cellular energy metabolism.
- CK isoenzymes (CK-MM, CK-MB, CK-BB) have distinct tissue distributions and clinical significance.
- Understanding CK levels in neonates is important for assessing muscle and brain health.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare serum creatine kinase activity in full-term and premature infants during early postnatal life.
- To analyze the distribution of CK isoenzymes (CK-MM, CK-MB, CK-BB) in these infant groups.
- To determine if distinct reference ranges for CK isoenzymes are necessary for term versus preterm neonates.
Main Methods:
- Serum samples were collected from healthy full-term and premature infants in the initial postnatal days.
- Ion-exchange column chromatography was employed to separate the different CK isoenzymes.
- Total CK activity and individual isoenzyme levels (U/l) were quantified.
Main Results:
- Total serum CK activity was observed to be lower in premature infants compared to full-term infants at equivalent time points.
- Separation of CK isoenzymes revealed distinct patterns between the two groups.
- Normal reference values for CK-BB (in U/l) were found to be applicable to both full-term and premature infants.
Conclusions:
- While total CK activity varies with gestational age in neonates, CK-BB levels show consistency.
- The findings support the use of a unified reference range for CK-BB in both term and preterm infants.
- This simplifies the interpretation of CK isoenzyme profiles in neonatal clinical chemistry.
Abstract:
Serum creatine kinase activity was measured during the first post-natal days in healthy full-term and premature infants. The CK isoenzymes (CK-MM, MB and BB) were separated using ion-exchange column chromatography. Total CK activity is lower for premature infants than for full-term infants at the same time-periods. However the separation of the CK isoenzymes shows that the same normal values for the CK-BB (expressed as U/l) may be used for the two groups of infants.