Influential factors in elevation of serum creatine phosphokinase for the patients with Kanemi Yusho

: We studied the etiology of the elevation of serum creatin phosphokinase (CK) using the data from routine medical checkup of Kanemi Yusho patients during 1995 and 1997. We also studied the serum CK and blood urea nitrogen (BUN) in rats given the polychlolinated biphenyls as well as controls, and conducted optical microscopic observation of muscle tissue in rats given the polychlolinated biphenyls and control. The patients with elevation of serum creatine phosphokinase also showed the elevation of BUN and polychlolinated biphenyls in their serum. These are thought to be triggers of the elevation of CK in the serum. However, animal experiments failed to yield the same results as human. The rats given polycholorinated biphenyls showed atrophy of muscle fibers. Accordingly, we were unable to clarify the etiology of CK elevation in humans and muscle atrophy in rats.