Brain Type Creatine Kinase in Relation to Oxygen Desaturation in the Blood of Children with Congenital Heart Disease

Abstract

The concentration of brain type creatine kinase (CK-BB) was measured in blood from the internal jugular vein in 32 children (<1 year old) with congenital heart disease. In transposition of the great arteries the CK-BB levels were significantly higher than in children without cyanosis (10.1±4.1 vs. 3.0±0.5 ng/ml). A negative correlation was found for CK-BB concentration and arterial oxygen saturation (r=-0.41, p<0.02 for all children and r=-0.62, p<0.05 for those with tetralogy of Fallot). It is suggested that the increased CK-BB levels in the blood of cyanotic children reflect chronic cerebral hypoxia, which may explain other reports of reduced psycho-intellectual function in patients with cyanotic heart disease.

Key Words:

• cyanosis
• infant
• creatine kinase
• heart defects
• congenital