DR GAYATHRI J,DR. NITHYA RAGAVI RAJENDRAN,DR SHANTHI NAMBI,DR.E. RAJESH
DOI: https://doi.org/Background:
Chronic alcohol use can result in skeletal muscle damage, often manifesting as alcoholic myopathy. Serum Creatine Phosphokinase (CPK) is a reliable biomarker of muscle injury. This study compares serum CPK levels between individuals with daily alcohol consumption and those exhibiting a binge drinking pattern, and evaluates the association of CPK with alcohol use severity and withdrawal symptoms.
Methods:
A prospective, randomized comparative study was conducted involving 40 male patients aged 18–60 years, diagnosed with Alcohol Dependence Syndrome (ADS) per DSM-5 criteria. Participants were divided into two groups: Group A (daily drinkers, n=20) and Group B (binge drinkers, n=20). Serum CPK levels were measured on Day 1. Severity of dependence and withdrawal was assessed using the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT) and the Clinical Institute Withdrawal Assessment for Alcohol Scale (CIWA-Ar), respectively.
Results:
Binge drinkers exhibited significantly higher mean serum CPK levels (710 U/L) compared to daily drinkers (460 U/L). AUDIT scores (29.2 vs. 25.6, p=0.001) and CIWA-Ar scores (16.8 vs. 9.3, p=0.0008) were also markedly higher in the binge drinking group. A strong positive correlation was observed between CPK levels and both AUDIT and CIWA-Ar scores, indicating greater muscle injury and withdrawal severity in binge drinkers.
Conclusion:
Serum CPK levels are significantly elevated in binge drinkers compared to daily drinkers, correlating with both dependence severity and withdrawal symptoms. CPK may serve as a potential biomarker to identify individuals at greater physiological risk during detoxification and to inform clinical management strategies
