Comparison of catalytic activity and mass concentration of serum creatine kinase MB isoenzyme in the detection of coronary reperfusion in acute myocardial infarction after therapeutic thrombolysis

Serum creatinine kinase MB isoenzyme time-activity curves are useful for the assessment of coronary reperfusion after acute myocardial infarction. The purpose of this study was to compare serum creatine kinase MB catalytic activity with mass concentration for the determination of coronary reflow after therapeutic thrombolysis. Creatine kinase MB mass was determined immunoenzymometrically. Creatinine kinase MB catalytic activity concentration was determined by electrophoresis. Serum was collected every 4 hours for 96 hours in two groups of myocardial infarction patients: A (n = 10), urokinase induced reperfusion; B (n = 10), conventional therapy without urokinase. Peaks of mass and activity occurred at similar times in groups A and B. Both were significantly earlier in the urokinase treated patients. The maximal rate of increase of creatine kinase MB (based on either mass or catalytic activity) was threefold greater in the urokinase group. There are no important differences between the behaviour of creatine kinase measured as catalytic concentration or as mass concentration. Mass concentration is therefore equally useful as an indicator of coronary reperfusion.