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 administration 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 physiological and pathological conditions such as age, pregnancy, puerperium, obesity, 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 order to establish the reference limits in our population.