The Origin Of Plasma Creatine Kinase-1, Detected In Patients During And Following Open-Heart Surgery

Plasma creatine kinase 1 (CK-1) was detected intra-operatively in 6 out of 6 patients and postoperatively in 15 out of 22 patients, undergoing cardiac surgery. A transient increase in plasma levels of creatine kinase 2 (CK-2) and total creatine kinase (CK-tot.) activity was observed in all patients. The disappearance rates for the 2 isoenzymes in the circulation were CK-1: K d = 4.7 × 10 −3 min −1 , and CK-2: K d = 0.60 × 10 −1 min −3 . Analysis of vessel and heart tissue showed that the saphenous vein contained mainly CK-1; high activities of all three isoenzymes were found in the parts of the heart investigated. Most probably, both CK-1 and CK-2 are liberated from injured cardiac tissue.