Studies on Cholinesterase: II. On the Cholinesterase of the Human Serum

The serum ChE level in the normal persons and the patients of various disease was determined manometrically. The value was expressed in terms of CO2cmm. per 1 min. per 1 cc. serum freed from the Ringer's solution of 0.015M acetylcholine chloride (Roche). 1) Average value of serum ChE in normal persons is 65.4. The variation is from 50 to 90. 2) The serum ChE level in the patients of liver- and neoplastic diseases is low. The decrease of the value is remarkable in the cases of serious damage of the liver and in gastric cancer. The decrease of serum ChE can occur despite the negative results of many liver function tests. The serum ChE level correlates with the results of bromsulfaleine test better than those of other liver function test. 3) In pulmonary tuberculosis, the variation of the serum ChE level is in a very wide range. Serious cases showed very low value, while in others normal or higher level was found. 4) In the cases of the endocrine disturbance, nervous disease or other various diseases, no characteristic change of the serum ChE level was found. However, regardless of the sort of disease, the serum ChE level is low in the serious cases.