causes of muscle cell death
High CPK levels are an indicator of a variety of muscle diseases and problems, not just Rhabdo. The 'normal' CPK levels are between 25 and 170. Over this number, and you have muscle cell damage happening. You can have high(er) CPK levels and not have Rhabdomyolysis. You can have muscle cell death happening, and never get to Rhabdomyolosis. You have to have -enough- cell death and -enough- myoglobin and other toxic dead cell byproducts to overwheml the system.