George_1985_Clin.Chim.Acta_145_1

Erythrocyte acetylcholinesterase (EC 3.1.1.7) and plasma pseudocholinesterase (EC 3.1.1.8) were determined from the day of admission up to 10 days in patients who have consumed organophosphate or carbamate poisons. In a number of patients, plasma pseudocholinesterase was completely inhibited on the day of admission but increased with the passage of days. Erythrocyte acetylcholinesterase was not completely inhibited and it also tended to increase with time in most cases. Patients in whom the erythrocyte acetylcholinesterase was very low and did not show an increase within the first few days expired indicating the prognostic importance of erythrocyte acetylcholinesterase. The profile of aryl acylamidase (EC 3.5.1.13) activity in plasma or erythrocytes showed a pattern similar to the respective cholinesterases. Moreover, whole blood aryl acylamidase activity was found to be a good index of erythrocyte acetylcholinesterase suggesting the prognostic usefulness of blood aryl acylamidase in the poisoned patients.