Serum lipids, acute phase proteins and serum cholinesterase in normal subjects

Abstract

Crook MA, Haq M, Tutt P. Serum lipids, acute phase proteins and serum cholinesterase in normal subjects. Scand J Clin Lab Invest 1994; 54: 601-3

Although serum cholinesterase (CHE) is elevated in some hyperlipidaemic subjects, the relationship between serum CHE and lipids in normolipidaemic subjects is scanty. Furthermore, serum CHE is reduced in conditions in which there is an acute phase response.

Serum CHE activity was measured in 46 normal individuals (22 males and 24 females). There was no significant difference between the activity of serum CHE in males or females being 6.2 ± 1.8U1⁻¹ vs. 6.4 ±1.5 U1⁻¹ respectively (mean ± SD). There was, however, a significant correlation between serum CHE and subject age (Spearman p 0.35, p < 0.05).

There was also a significant correlation between serum CHE and serum non-fasting triglyceride concentration (p 0.34, p < 0.05) and also apolipoprotein B (p 0.38, p < 0.05) but not serum cholesterol or HDL-cholesterol. Five serum acute phase proteins were measured namely serum α-1 antichymotrypsin (ACT), α-1 -acid-glycoprotein (AGP), α-2-macroglobulin (AMG), C-reactive protein (CRP), haptoglobin (HAP). Only serum AGP showed a significant negative correlation with serum CHE (p – 0.43, p < 0.02).

Key Words:

• cholinesterase
• lipids
• acute phase proteins