13 replies to this topic

[Rafferty]

Anyone here with abnormally high CK levels?

Some basic interweb research suggests that high levels are not uncommon with endurance runners and gym junkies.

Optimum range indicated to be between 45-85, which oddly enough both my wife and I exceed my some margin.

Due to exertion or impending renal failure?

[wozzam]

can't be renal failure, you seem to be full of it

[Rafferty]

wozzam, on May 13 2009, 08:32 PM, said:

can't be renal failure, you seem to be full of it

Cheers Wozza.

Can I buy a vowel?

[orlando]

Do you mean creatinine or CK(creatinine kinase) because they're quite different things?

Creatinine is a waste product of metabolism and because it's primarily excreted by kidneys, elevation is a good marker of impaired renal function.

Creatinine kinase is an enzyme found primarily in cardiac and skeletal muscle.  If elevated it's a sign of muscle damage - due to things like trauma, inflammation or heart attack.

[imperfectlylou]

orlando, on May 13 2009, 09:50 PM, said:

Do you mean creatinine or CK(creatinine kinase) because they're quite different things?

Creatinine is a waste product of metabolism and because it's primarily excreted by kidneys, elevation is a good marker of impaired renal function.

Creatinine kinase is an enzyme found primarily in cardiac and skeletal muscle.  If elevated it's a sign of muscle damage - due to things like trauma, inflammation or heart attack.

Good post by orlanda - if you are referring to creatinine, do not brush off high levels. Impaired renal function is serious....

But CK and also things like AST are often elevated in people who work out a lot due to continual muscle damage/stress.

[Rafferty]

orlando, on May 13 2009, 09:50 PM, said:

Do you mean creatinine or CK(creatinine kinase) because they're quite different things?

Creatinine is a waste product of metabolism and because it's primarily excreted by kidneys, elevation is a good marker of impaired renal function.

Creatinine kinase is an enzyme found primarily in cardiac and skeletal muscle.  If elevated it's a sign of muscle damage - due to things like trauma, inflammation or heart attack.

Not entirely sure, as the pathology report simply states "creatinine umol/L (45-85)" yet my GP refers to them as "CK".

Anyhow, found this old CR thread - http://www.coolrunni...?showtopic=5512

My wife followed up on hers with the 24 hour urine clearance test which indicated all was OK.

Still, interested if any others here have noticed anything in relation to the topic in their blood tests over the years.

Edited by Rafferty, 14 May 2009 - 07:58 AM.

[TechGirl]

It sounds like you should get some clarification.  Creatinine is a renal indicator and is measured in umol/l.  Creatine (not creatinine) kinase (CK) is an indicator of muscle damage and is measured in U/l. One reference source has a normal range for creatinine for men at 60-120 umol/l, which would make you normal. However, reference ranges do vary between labs.  If they did mean CK, those numbers are also well within normal limits.  

Cheers,

TechGirl

[Rafferty]

TechGirl, on May 14 2009, 08:30 AM, said:

Creatinine is a renal indicator and is measured in umol/l.

Thanks, TG.

This is the one (and only) mentioned in the DHM pathology report - I'm thinking that my GP has his terminology mixed up.

For men it would seem the range is 60-110, for women 45-85.

[Old chook]

Just in case nobody's confused:

If you produce a high enough creatine kinase, due to massive exertion and/or heat stress causing muscle breakdown, and don't take in enough fluids to wash all this out through your kidneys, you will go into kidney failure, the indicator for which is raised creatinine

Edited by Old chook, 14 May 2009 - 10:27 AM.

[brizza]

Old chook, on May 14 2009, 10:25 AM, said:

Just in case nobody's confused:

If you produce a high enough creatine kinase, due to massive exertion and/or heat stress causing muscle breakdown, and don't take in enough fluids to wash all this out through your kidneys, you will go into kidney failure, the indicator for which is raised creatinine

old chook is spot on,drink more during exercise

[Rafferty]

Old chook, on May 14 2009, 10:25 AM, said:

Just in case nobody's confused:

If you produce a high enough creatine kinase, due to massive exertion and/or heat stress causing muscle breakdown, and don't take in enough fluids to wash all this out through your kidneys, you will go into kidney failure, the indicator for which is raised creatinine

But you can have a raised creatinine level in a blood test but fall within the acceptable range in the 24 hour urine collection test (the latter apparently the much more accurate of the two tests).

All which leads to me to think that raised levels of creatinine amongst long distance runners and heavy weight trainers could perhaps be pretty common.

As mentioned in my initial post, anyone here with knowledge of their own creatinine levels?

[undercover brother]

brizza, on May 14 2009, 12:28 PM, said:

old chook is spot on,drink more during exercise

not as simple as that as its also possible to overhydrate oneself.

Rafferty, on May 14 2009, 03:53 PM, said:

As mentioned in my initial post, anyone here with knowledge of their own creatinine levels?

yes.
normal.

[run2work]

I had a routine blood test because I turned 50.

CK level from that blood test last Saturday, a week after Six Foot Track in which I smashed my quads big time.

1066 umol/l.  It appears that this is very high, and doctor was concerned initially but less after telling him of the run.

Myocardial infarct or muscle damage from Six Foot Track Marathon? No chest pain, no other symptoms of a heart attack.

Anything to worry about?      I am having another test when all of my quads soreness is gone.

r2w

[walshy2]

I can't really be bothered going upstairs and finding my old  blood test results, but I had 2 tests where the result of one particular element ( I can't recall which), pointed towards impaired kidney function, but only if supported by evidence of same in a urine sample

Had the urine sample and all ok, so doctor was satisfied then

Edited by walshy2, 22 March 2010 - 08:09 PM.