Serum creatine kinase levels as inflammatory marker in patients with rheumatoid arthritis

This study was carried out to determine a possible correlation between disease activity and creatine kinase (CK), alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. The clinical activity was evaluated by clinical and laboratory findings. Laboratory parameters included ESR and CRP. No statistically significant correlation between ALT and AST was found. CK was instead significantly lower in the active group than in non-active and control groups. No difference was found between non-active and control groups. There was also a statistically significant negative correlation between CK levels, and ESR and CRP.