Does anyone out there have an autistic child with high levels of CK? My son has had two blood draws and both have come back extremely high. My neurologist has informed me that it is normal for children with sutism to have elevated CK levels but when I asked him why, he simply told me that it was the way things are and not to worry. He is sending us for more amino acid test to try and find out if there is any cell damage, where it is coming from. My DAN pediatrician informed me that none of his other children have elevated CK levels and we need to figure out what is going on. I thought since you are all so experienced, maybe someone could help me understand more. I have found CK levels on line and do not like what I see. I can pretty much rule out two of the three reasons the CK would be high. 1. heart attack, do not think that is an option, and 2. recent brain trama, again, not after too seperate blood draws weeks apart. The third is what is making me nervous, muscle damage. If anyone could help, please respond.
Thanks,
Joanne

Hi,
I suggest you to determined what isoform of CK-CPK is higher in your child.
Read below what mean the increment of each isoforms.
If the CPK-BB isoform is the most abundand, a brain damage is suspect and it may be taking place. Then, I think is important to investigate on what happen in the brain and to adopt an appropriate therapy for stop injury. Probably this is the cause of the autism in your child.
Inform us by a further post when you have results of CPK isoenzymes.


CPK is an enzyme found predominantly in the heart, brain, and skeletal muscle. CPK is composed of 3 forms (isoenzymes), which differ slightly in structure. CPK-1 (also called CPK-BB) is concentrated in the brain, CPK-2 (also called CPK-MB) is found mostly in the heart, and CPK-3 (also called CPK-MM) is found mostly in skeletal muscle.
CPK-2 (MB) levels rise 3 to 6 hours after a myocardial infarction (heart attack). If there is no further myocardial damage, the level peaks at 12 to 24-hours and returns to normal 12 to 48 hours after infarction (tissue death). CPK-MB levels do not usually rise with chest pain caused by angina, pulmonary embolism (blood clots in the lung), or congestive heart failure.
Because the CPK-BB isoenzyme is predominately found in the brain and lung, injury to either of these organs (for example, stroke, or pulmonary infarction - lung injury due to a pulmonary embolism) are associated with elevated levels of this isoenzyme.
The CPK-MM isoenzyme normally comprises almost all the total CPK enzyme activity in healthy people. When this particular isoenzyme is elevated, it usually indicates injury or stress to the skeletal muscle.

Regarding the later part of your post, I have found in the medline a recent paper published in journal autism developmental disorder in which the Authors describe 2 autistic children with elevate serum CPK and muscular dystrophy. However don't worry because this is a very rare possibility. In fact this case has been issued just because rare.

1: J Autism Dev Disord. 2003 Apr;33(2):193-9.

Two children with muscular dystrophies ascertained due to referral for diagnosis
of autism.

Zwaigenbaum L, Tarnopolsky M.

Department of Pediatrics, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.
zwaigenb@mcmaster.ca

We report two children who were referred for diagnostic assessment for autism
and were subsequently determined to have a muscular dystrophy (MD). Each child
had a history of speech delay and social impairments, but also had motor delays
that had not previously been investigated. Both children met diagnostic criteria
for autism spectrum disorders on standardized assessment. Each child was
hypotonic and had other mild motor impairments. Serum creatine kinase (CK)
activity was markedly elevated in each child, and subsequent muscle biopsy led
to diagnosis of Becker's MD and congenital (autosomal recessive) MD,
respectively. These cases highlight the importance of a thorough neuromotor
examination for all children with suspected autism spectrum disorders.



[This message has been edited by mimmo (edited 07-17-2003).]

Thank you so much! I have copied your post and faxed it to my neurologist. I should be hearing from him next week about when to set up another blood draw for Ryan. I will be more than happy to let you know the results as soon as I get them.
Joanne

Dear Mimmo,
I still haven't gotten anywhere yet. I just did not want you to think I had forgotten. As soon as I know anything, I'll let you know.
Thanks,
Joanne

Dear Joanne,
don't worry but make all what is necessary.
The next week I'll go to holiday and I come back first september. Thus it's like that I haven't a look to this forum in this period.
Be happy and sorry for my english.