Serum CK-MB and Cardiac Troponin-I Levels in Asthmatic Children

The elevations of serum creatine kinase myocardial bound (CK-MB) levels can be observed in children and suggest a myocardial injury. We determined serum CK-MB and cardiac troponin-I (cTn-I) levels in 30 asthmatic children to assess cardiac injury at admission for exacerbation and two weeks later. Twenty healthy age-matched children served as controls. The CK-MB levels in admission for asthmatic exacerbation were higher than control group and than the levels of the same patients after exacerbation (p<0.05). There was found to be a positive correlation between the CK-MB levels and respiratory rate and a negative correlation between the CK-MB levels and oxygen saturation measured at admission. The effective factors on CK-MB levels was found to be respiratory rate and oxygen saturation. However serum cTn-I levels were found to be normal in allpatients including those with CK-MB elevation. In conclusion, CK-MB elevation may ocur in children with acute astma attack related to the stress on respiratory muscles.