Is creatine kinase a valid aid in early cardiac muscle damage detection during treatment for childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia? A case report

Creatine kinase (CK) is an enzyme that plays a pivotal role in various physiological processes, including metabolism and muscle function. This enzyme is found in high concentrations in skeletal muscle and the myocardium, with lower levels present in the brain. Increases in CK values have been observed in muscle damage and neuromuscular disorders. The potential for cardiotoxicity resulting from the administration of chemotherapeutic agents has been identified in subjects affected by hematological or solid tumors. In the present work, we describe the case story of a child diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia who exhibited two episodes of asymptomatic, markedly elevated CK values, identified during chemotherapy treatment. Our aim was to investigate the potential of CK as a biomarker for the early detection of cardiac muscle damage during therapy.