Abstract
Substance concentrations of plasma cholinesterase (EC 3.1.1.8) were measured in 94 healthy individuals without occupational exposure to known inhibitors (six samples from each individual). Immunoreactive cholinesterase substance concentrations showed an inter-individual variation corresponding to CVtotal = 22% (mean 5.01 mg/l, SD mg/l mg/l). Intra-individual variations of immunoreactive cholinesterase substance concentration were correlated (r = 0.36) to intra-individual variations of albumin. Estimated by a repeated-measures analysis of variance, the observed intra-individual variation of cholinesterase substance concentration corresponded to CV = 8.8% (SD: 0.44 mg/l), which toghether with a CVerror = 6% (within and between runs), implies a biological intra-individual variation of cholinesterase substance concentration corresponding to CVintra = 6.4%. Specific catalytic activity (kU/mg immunoreactive cholinesterase) was influenced by the ChE-1 phenotype (phenotype U: 1.58 kU/mg, phenotype UA: 1.22 kU/mg), but not by body weight, height, age, and sex. Observed intra-individual variation of specific catalytic corresponded to 6.4% (SD: 0.10 kU/mg), which together with an estimated CVerror - 6.2 implies tha biological intra-individual variations of specific catalytic cholinesterase activity to be insignificant. The insignificant CVintra makes specific catalytic cholinesterase activity a rational quantity for evaluation of unexpected fluctuations of cholinesterase activity concentrations.