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CK, or Creatine Kinase, is an enzyme released by muscle in the body. When the muscle is being damaged, the amount of CK released increases. Some people always have a higher than normal CK, which may be fine for them. Some people have their CK rise after vigorous exercise, which for most individuals, is not a significant concern. CK can increase in diseases which cause inflammation in the muscle, but it is not a specific sign for inflammation. Rather, it only suggests something is happening the muscle, but not specifically what.

Anna from Port Alberni, BC asks: I really have no symptoms, but my doctor is concerned that I have mixed connective tissue disease because my RNP test is positive. What should I do?

Mixed connective tissue disease (MCTD) is similar and has some overlap to systemic lupus. By definition, an antibody test called RNP should be positive in MCTD. However, as in many conditions and tests in rheumatology, a positive test does not necessarily diagnose a disease. Conversely, a negative test does not always rule out a disease either. To truly make a diagnosis of MCTD, lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, or many other rheumatic diseases, your doctor/rheumatologist needs to review your personal history with you, complete a physical examination, review the appropriate tests and put all that information together to make an informed diagnosis.