[Relationship of serum level of creatine kinase of MB type to cardiac function of patients with advanced tumors and its prognostic value].

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVE: Patients with advanced tumors usually suffer from cardiac dysfunction. Monitoring cardiac function is important for these patients. Serum creatine kinase of MB type (CK-MB) is a biochemical marker of cardiac damage. This study was to estimate relationship of serum level of CK-MB to cardiac function of patients with advanced tumors, and its prognostic value.

METHODS: Serum CK-MB in 68 patients with advanced tumors was detected by immunoinhibition assay. Observation group was composed of 34 patients with elevated serum CK-MB. Control group was composed of 34 patients with normal serum CK-MB level.

RESULTS: Incidence of cardiac insufficiency of grade III-IV was significantly higher in observation group than in control group (21 vs. 6, P < 0.05). Mortality of observation group was significantly higher than that of control group (25 vs. 8, P < 0.01). Elevation of serum CK-MB was frequently found in patients with primary liver cancer or liver metastasis (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS: Patients with elevated serum CK-MB often suffer from cardiac insufficiency, severe illness status, and have high mortality. Serum level of CK-MB may be a predictor of poor prognosis of patients with advanced tumors.