Tag Cloud

What is a tag cloud?

Current tags: Clear current tags
View full tag cloud
Advertisement
Q

What are the possible diagnoses for a patient with severe muscle pains with raised creatine kinase?

Associated tags: adverse events, anabolic steroids, athletes, bodybuilders, creatine kinase, diagnosis, etiology, muscle pain, Musculoskeletal disease, myopathy, raised creatine kinase, rhabomyolysis

Question DetailsView Comments (0)
A

ANSWER

provided by Trip / NLH
Search
Moderate
Appraisal
Moderate
Confidence
Moderate

Answer Rating key

search strong
appraisal weak
confidence moderate

Question answered:01/04/08

GP Notebook reports that the normal range for CK “are 24-170 Units/litre in women, 24-195 in men” [1].  Within that section they report that raised levels can be due to strenuous exercise [2] and intramuscular injections [3].

 

The medical website Wrong Diagnosis categorises and offer potential causes of muscle pain [4].  As we are unsure of the type of muscle pain experienced we recommend you view the site via the URL below.

 

Muscle pain could also be a side-effect of the anabolic steroids [5] and rhabdomyolysis has been reported in anabolic steroids users [6, 7]

 

The question was reviewed by our medical director who states:-

 

The grossly elevated level probably indicates acute inflammatory myopathy and the most likely cause is steroid induced rhabomyolysis – I refer you to the emedicine chapter on the subject [8] as this patient probably requires urgent full metabolic work up

 

References

1) http://www.gpnotebook.co.uk/simplepage.cfm?ID=1416298521
2) http://www.gpnotebook.co.uk/simplepage.cfm?ID=2047213593&linkID=11265&cook=yes
3) http://www.gpnotebook.co.uk/simplepage.cfm?ID=2040135705&linkID=11266&cook=yes
4) http://www.wrongdiagnosis.com/sym/muscle_pain.htm
5) http://www.nida.nih.gov/SteroidAlert/SteroidAlert.html
6) http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/7934015
7) http://www.bjhm.co.uk/cgi-bin/go.pl/library/article.cgi?uid=18414;article=hm_66_6_362_362
8) http://www.emedicine.com/emerg/topic508.htm
 


DISCLAIMER: TRIPanswers is a collection of clinical questions and answers.  Each provider will have their own methodology in answering questions and these are likely not to be as rigorous as systematic review.  If you have any doubt as to the implications of this contact the Q&A Service Provider for further information. This document is presented for information purposes only. This document cannot and should not be used as a basis of diagnosis or choice of treatment, and is in no way intended to replace professional medical care or attention by a qualified practitioner. TRIPanswers and TRIP Database Ltd are not responsible or liable for, directly or indirectly, ANY form of damage whatsoever resulting from the use/misuse of information contained in or implied by this document.  Also, ensure you have read the terms and conditions for using the site.

Need to search for more evidence?

Help us improve this answer

Leave comments or suggestions below

Disclaimer:

TRIP will review each comment and will only publish those we feel will enhance a particular answer.  As a result of the review process there will be a delay between submission and publication of accepted comments.