Cytoplasmic creatine kinase in normal and pathological human kidney tissue.

Cytoplasmic creatine kinase (CK) activity was measured in 39 renal cortex samples from various kidney diseases. The highest CK values were observed in normal tissues (507 +/- 71). The mean values of CK enzymatic activity in the other groups decreased in the following order: chronic pyelonephritis (273 +/- 98), hydronephrosis (233 +/- 102), renal tuberculosis (133 +/- 34), pyonephrosis (96 +/- 46), and hypernephroma (45 +/- 33). The decrease in CK activity in kidney tissue paralleled tissue damage, and affects cellular functionality in relation with the processes that use adenosine 5'-triphosphate, such as the ionic pumps.