Origin of Increased Serum Creatine Phosphokinase in Tetanus

Abstract

INCREASED activity of serum creatine phosphokinase (CPK) has been reported recently in patients with tetanus and may be useful in the diagnosis of this disease.¹ The object of the present study was to identify the tissue source of the elevated serum CPK in tetanus and to determine the mechanism of its release from the tissue. Methods Generalized tetanus was produced in seven adult white rabbits by injecting 15 mouse-test doses of tetanus toxin into the subcutaneous tissue of the back. One day later one of these rabbits was made completely flaccid for ten hours by administration of the neuromuscular blocking agent, succinylcholine. During the succinylcholine-induced paralysis, a tracheostomy was performed under local anesthesia induced by procaine, and respirations were maintained with a pump ventilator. The succinylcholine, as well as fluids and glucose, was administered by continuous intravenous infusion. The CPK activity was measured by the method of Tanzer