title: [Cholinesterases].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To review current data on butyrylcholinesterase.
  
  
  METHODS
  Search through Medline data bases of articles in French or English.
  
  
  METHODS
  Original articles and case reports were selected. Letters to editor were excluded.
  
  
  METHODS
  The articles were analyzed in order to obtain current data on biochemical structure, action, major pathological variations, especially with regard to the recent informations obtained by molecular biology concerning the identification of genetic variants.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Butyrylcholinesterase must be differentiated from acetylcholinesterase, which cannot hydrolyse succinylcholine. The physiological action of butyrylcholinesterase remains unknown, although it can hydrolyse many drugs. Excluding genetical mutations, several physiopathological situations alter butyryl-cholinesterase activity. Butyrylcholinesterase activity assessment does not allow the diagnosis of genetic variants. Whatever the origin, only deficits of more than 50% modify significantly the metabolism of succinylcholine or mivacurium. The diagnosis of a prolonged neuromuscular blockade is obtained with systematic monitoring of the neuromuscular function in case of administration of mivacurium or succinylcholine. Mivacurium should only be re-injected when one response at train of four is obtained. In case of prolonged neuromuscular blockade, the anticholinesterasic agent should not be administered when no response at train of four is obtained. The biochemical methods using inhibitors (dibucaine, fluoride) of the butyrylcholinesterase and a familial study lead to the diagnosis in most cases because the atypical and fluoride variants are the most frequent. When results are doubtful, genetic molecular methods with the use of PCR and restriction enzymes allow a rapid diagnosis.
authors.affiliation: Service d'anesthésie-réanimation chirurgicale, CHR, Nantes, France.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lejus
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Blanloeil
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Burnat
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Souron
mesh_terms: D000110:Acetylcholinesterase / Q000502:physiology; D000779:Anesthetics, Local / Q000494:pharmacology; D002091:Butyrylcholinesterase / Q000502:physiology; D002800:Cholinesterase Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D002802:Cholinesterases / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D003992:Dibucaine / Q000494:pharmacology; D005459:Fluorides / Q000494:pharmacology; D014644:Genetic Variation; D006801:Humans; D007546:Isoquinolines / Q000378:metabolism; D000077590:Mivacurium; D008967:Molecular Biology; D009154:Mutation / Q000235:genetics; D019148:Neuromuscular Blockade; D009466:Neuromuscular Blocking Agents / Q000378:metabolism*; D009467:Neuromuscular Depolarizing Agents / Q000378:metabolism; D003473:Neuromuscular Nondepolarizing Agents / Q000378:metabolism; D013390:Succinylcholine / Q000378:metabolism; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D000779:Anesthetics, Local; D002800:Cholinesterase Inhibitors; D007546:Isoquinolines; D009466:Neuromuscular Blocking Agents; D009467:Neuromuscular Depolarizing Agents; D003473:Neuromuscular Nondepolarizing Agents; D000077590:Mivacurium; D000110:Acetylcholinesterase; D002091:Butyrylcholinesterase; D002802:Cholinesterases; D013390:Succinylcholine; D003992:Dibucaine; D005459:Fluorides
vernacular_title: Les cholinestérases.