title: Organophosphates and monocyte esterase deficiency.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To examine the possibility that monocyte esterase deficiency (MED) could be caused by exposure to organophosphates.
  
  
  METHODS
  Pseudocholinesterase, paraoxonase and arylesterase activities were measured in the serum and acetylcholinesterase activity was measured in the red cells of a group of monocyte esterase deficient subjects and compared with the enzyme activities of a control group of monocyte esterase positive subjects.
  
  
  RESULTS
  No significant difference was found between the enzyme activities of the monocyte esterase deficient group and the control group for any of the esterases investigated.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Current or recent exposure to organophosphorus is not the cause of MED.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Chemistry, Belfast City Hospital.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: McClean
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Mackey
authors.forename: G M
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Markey
authors.forename: T C
authors.initials: TC
authors.lastname: Morris
mesh_terms: D000110:Acetylcholinesterase / Q000097:blood; D043303:Aryldialkylphosphatase; D002091:Butyrylcholinesterase / Q000097:blood; D002265:Carboxylic Ester Hydrolases / Q000097:blood; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000201:enzymology; D004950:Esterases / Q000097:blood / Q000172:deficiency*; D006801:Humans; D007306:Insecticides / Q000009:adverse effects*; D009000:Monocytes / Q000201:enzymology*; D009943:Organophosphorus Compounds
chemical_list: D007306:Insecticides; D009943:Organophosphorus Compounds; D004950:Esterases; D002265:Carboxylic Ester Hydrolases; C019734:arylesterase; D000110:Acetylcholinesterase; D002091:Butyrylcholinesterase; D043303:Aryldialkylphosphatase