Plasma creatine kinase and myoglobin levels, before and after abortion, in human fetuses at risk for Duchenne muscular dystrophy

Abstract

Plasma levels of creatine kinase (CK) were measured in 14 abortuses, nine of which were at risk for Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). The plasma CK level was found to be increased in all abortuses, compared with the value obtained by fetoscopy before the termination. The causes of the increase in CK level were found to be 1) method of termination, 2) physical state of the abortus at delivery, 3) delay between delivery of the abortus and taking the blood sample, and 4) site of blood sampling. It is concluded that even under optimum conditions of termination the plasma creatine kinase level of the abortus is significantly raised above the true level; hence, this measurement is not reliable as a guide to the genetic status of the fetus. Cardiac leakage was the main source of the raised plasma CK level in the abortus and this was corroborated by measurement of myoglobin levels.