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Creatine phosphokinase

(Science: enzyme) An enzyme that is contained in skeletal muscle, smooth muscle and cardiac muscle.

creatine phosphokinase is released into the bloodstream in increased quantities if muscle in injured. Creatine phosphokinase can be fractionated so that specific measurements can be made for blood levels of creatine phosphokinase that comes exclusively from damaged heart muscle. This makes it an important test for the laboratory diagnosis of heart attack.

Acronym: cpk