title: Plasma cholinesterase changes during pregnancy. Their interpretation as a cause of suxamethonium-induced apnoea.
abstract: Cholinesterase activities were measured on serum from 941 pregnant women distributed evenly throughout the 40 weeks of gestation. A rapid fall has been shown to occur during the first trimester to a level which did not alter significantly during the remainder of pregnancy. Even lower values were observed in 105 patients examined during the first 7 days following delivery. Enzyme activity was used to determine the probable incidence of a prolonged reaction to suxamethonium in obstetric patients. The risk was greatest in the immediate post partum period affecting 11% of the patients investigated.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001049:Apnea / Q000139:chemically induced; D002802:Cholinesterases / Q000097:blood* / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D049590:Postpartum Period; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000139:chemically induced; D012306:Risk; D013390:Succinylcholine / Q000009:adverse effects*
chemical_list: D002802:Cholinesterases; D013390:Succinylcholine