What condition is associated with the highest levels of creatine kinase (CK)?

Duchenne's Muscular Dystrophy is associated with the highest levels of creatine kinase (CK) because this genetic condition primarily affects muscle integrity and function. In individuals with Duchenne's Muscular Dystrophy, there is a defect in the dystrophin protein, which is crucial for maintaining muscle cell structure. This defect leads to muscle cell breakdown and damage, resulting in the leakage of CK into the bloodstream.

CK is an enzyme found in high concentrations in muscle tissue, and elevated levels in serum can indicate muscle damage. While creatine kinase levels can also be elevated in conditions such as myocardial infarction, where cardiac muscle is damaged, the extent of elevation in CK levels is often much higher in muscular dystrophies compared to myocardial conditions.

In contrast, stroke and hypertension are not primarily associated with elevated creatine kinase levels because they do not typically result in direct muscle damage. Stroke may affect brain tissue and lead to various other biomarkers being elevated, but CK is not a key marker in this context. Similarly, hypertension is a systemic condition that does not cause the same level of muscle damage associated with conditions like Duchenne's Muscular Dystrophy.