PSEUDOCHOLINESTERASE ACTIVITY: DETERMINATION AND INTERPRETATION INPEDIATRIC ANESTHESIA

Pseudocholinesterase (PChE), also known as plasma cholinesterase, is a serine hydrolase capable of hydrolyzing esters including acetylcholine, succinylcholine, mivacurium and ester type localanesthetics such as procaine, chloroprocaine, tetracaine, cocaine and heroin. PChE is synthesized by the liver, and is found in the plasma, the pancreas, the heart and the brain. It has a serum half life of 8 to 12 days, and is an alpha 2 globulin, a tetramer of 342000 molecular weight, that exists in aggregate form1.