DIFFERENTIATION OF SERUM CHOLINESTERASE VARIANTS BY SUCCINYLDICHOLINE INHIBITION

Abstract
The inhibition by succinyldicholine (suxamethonium, Scoline) of the hydrolysis of benzoylcholine by serum cholinesterases has been studied. An analytical scheme for the differentiation of the genetically-determined cholinesterase variants is described and the ranges of percentage inhibition (Scoline number) encountered for each phenotype are presented. Correlation between succinyldicholine, dibucaine, fluoride and chloride inhibitions in 221 individuals of 6 recognized phenotypes are illustrated and it is suggested that these groupings are not homogeneous.