SERUM-CHOLINESTERASE ACTIVITY IN VIRAL-HEPATITIS

Serum cholinesterase (CHE) activity was assessed in a group of patient s with different types of viral hepatitis. Serum samples from 120 pati ents with such a diagnosis (37 with hepatitis A, 48 with hepatitis B a nd 35 with hepatitis C virus infection) were analysed. As compared to 66 serum samples from uninfected controls, the hepatitis C virus-infec ted patients showed significantly higher CHE activity (p < 0.001), whe reas diminished activity was detected in patients with either hepatiti s A or hepatitis B virus infection (p < 0.001 for both groups). There was a correlation between CHE activity and other serum viral markers. The significance of this variation in CHE activity among different vir al hepatitis infections should be established.