title: A note on suxamethonium sensitivity and serum cholinesterase variants.
abstract: Sera from 21 cases of prolonged apnoea which showed normal phenotype (UU) on the basis of dibucaine and fluoride inhibition were re-examined by replacing the substrate benzoylcholine with succinylcholine (suxamethonium). 9 samples had normal enzyme activity but low dibucaine number (DN = less than 20) indicating the atypical variant; 6 sera showed no detectable enzyme activity. The remaining 6 samples had enzyme activity and DN comparable with healthy controls. The occurence of new variants of serum cholinesterase sensitive only to succinylcholine is suggested.
mesh_terms: D001049:Apnea / Q000139:chemically induced; D002802:Cholinesterases / Q000097:blood*; D004342:Drug Hypersensitivity / Q000201:enzymology / Q000235:genetics*; D014644:Genetic Variation; D006801:Humans; D013390:Succinylcholine / Q000009:adverse effects*
chemical_list: D002802:Cholinesterases; D013390:Succinylcholine