What Causes Low CK Levels?

Posted on Wed, 14 Oct 2015

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Wed, 14 Oct 2015 Answered on

Tue, 17 Nov 2015 Last reviewed on

Question : What would cause a low CK level?

Answered by Dr. Bonnie Berger-Durnbaugh (1 hour later)

Brief Answer:
Many causes for low CK.

Detailed Answer:
There are many things that can create a low CK level on a blood test. Whether that low CK level has any significance or not depends on the patient's medical problems/history, and just how low that lab value is. Also, whether it continues to be low on repeated lab tests.

Without these things, a low CK level on one lab test may be insignificant, or even a lab error.

So what things do cause a low creatinine kinase:
Thyroid disease with elevated thyroxine levels
Connective tissue disorders, rheumatoid arthritis
Recent steroid therapy (Prednisone, etc)
Cushing's disease (a state where the body produces too much cortisol)
Estrogen therapy
Hormonal birth control pills
Tamoxifen
High alkaline phosphatase levels
Early pregnancy
Alcoholic liver disease

As you can see, the causes are varied and some are relatively unconcerning.

I hope this information helps.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar