VARIATIONS IN SERUM-CHOLINESTERASE ACTIVITY IN DIFFERENT AGE AND SEX GROUPS

Measurements of serum cholinesterase activity has been used to assess liver function, predict susceptibility to prolonged apnoea after admin istration of the muscle relaxant succinylcholine and monitor excessive exposure to the anti-cholinesterase organophosphorus insecticides (1, 2). Serum cholinesterase activity can be affected by many physiologic al and pathological conditions such as age, pregnancy, puerperium, obe sity, some drug therapy, and liver diseases. Additionally, congenital cholinesterase deficiency, which is due to several genetic variants of the enzyme, has also been reported (3, 4). Since the enzyme activity is altered by many factors, we aimed to show the distribution of serum cholinesterase activity levels in different age and sex groups, in or der to establish the reference limits in our population.