DECREASE IN PLASMA CHOLINESTERASE ACTIVIT Y IN SEVERE BACTERIAL-INFECTIONS - COMPARISON WITH THE DECREASE IN THE CASE OF SEVERE HEPATIC CIRRHOSIS

As the influence of sepsis on plasma cholinesterase activity is not cl early established, plasma cholinesterase activity was measured in 30 h ealthy surgical orthopaedic patients, 11 patients with severe postoper ative infections and 18 patients with patent cirrhosis (Child-Pugh C). Plasma cholinesterase activities were significantly decreased (P < 0. 001) in patients with postoperative infections (1,706 +/- 535 UI . L(- 1)) and in those with patent cirrhosis (1,318 +/- 538 UI . L(-1)) in c omparison to healthy surgical patients (4,716 +/- 1,232 UI . L(-1)). T he decrease in patients with postoperative infections and in those wit h patent cirrhosis was similar. It remains to be assessed whether the activity of anaesthetic agents biotransformed by plasma cholinesterase is modified during severe infections.