In clinical settings, creatine kinase is measured to identify muscle damage, rhabdomyolysis (severe muscle breakdown), muscular dystrophy, and to track drug-induced myotoxicity, such as that caused by statin therapy, clozapine, and other medications. It's important to remember that patients of afro-caribbean ancestry may have CK values that are greater than average given their muscular mass. So a baseline CK level is advised before beginning any therapy likely to cause muscular damage.