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Serum creatine phosphokinase activity in psychiatrically hospitalized children
Insights
Serum creatine phosphokinase (CPK) levels were higher in Black children and males. CPK elevations were more common in children with organic brain pathology, but not chronic psychosis.
Area of Science:
- Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
- Neurochemistry
- Clinical Biochemistry
Background:
- Serum creatine phosphokinase (CPK) is an enzyme found in muscle and brain tissue.
- Elevated CPK levels can indicate tissue damage or certain medical conditions.
- Understanding CPK levels in pediatric psychiatric patients may offer insights into underlying biological factors.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate serum CPK activity in children admitted to an inpatient psychiatric facility.
- To explore demographic and diagnostic correlations with CPK levels in this population.
Main Methods:
- Serum CPK activity was measured in 101 consecutive pediatric admissions.
- Data were analyzed based on race, sex, and psychiatric diagnosis.
- Comparisons were made between groups with and without organic brain pathology or psychotic symptoms.
Main Results:
- Black children and males exhibited significantly higher serum CPK levels compared to white children and females, respectively.
- Higher CPK elevations were observed in children with organic brain pathology versus those with personality disorders or schizophrenia.
- No significant increase in CPK activity was found in children with chronic psychotic symptoms.
Conclusions:
- Demographic factors (race, sex) are associated with serum CPK levels in pediatric psychiatric patients.
- Organic brain pathology in children may correlate with elevated CPK, similar to adult findings.
- Chronic psychosis in children does not appear to increase serum CPK activity.
Abstract:
Serum creatine phosphokinase (CPK) activity was determined in a series of 101 sequential admissions to the Pritzker Children's Hospital, an inpatient psychiatric facility. Black children had significantly higher serum CPK levels than whites, and males had significantly higher levels than females, as is the case with adults. There was a higher incidence of CPK elevations in children with organic brain pathology than in children with personality disorders or schizoprenia. Children with chronic symptoms of a psychotic nature did not have increased serum CPK activity, which is similar to the findings in adults. There were no children in the sample with acute psychotic symptoms, so it was not possible to determine whether acute psychosis in children is accompanied by increased serum CPK activity, as it frequently is in psychotics over the age of 17.