Creatine phosphokinase elevation in patients presenting to the emergency department with cocaine-related complaints

The incidence of creatine phosphokinase (CPK) elevation was evaluated in patients presenting to an urban emergency department with any complaint related to cocaine use within the preceeding 24 hours. Patients with obvious causes of CPK elevation (ie, seizure) were excluded. Forty patients were enrolled. CPK values were elevated in 21 patients (53%). The mean CPK value for patients with an elevated CPK was 1,071 IU/L. There was no statistically significant difference between the patient's initial complaint (muculoskeletal, psychiatric, or cardiovascular) and the incidence of CPK elevation (P = .35). Thirty of the 40 patients admitted to using some other drug(s) in addition to cocaine in the preceding 24 hours. Some degree of skeletal muscle injury and CPK elevation appears to be common in patients using cocaine.