Cholinesterase activity in serum and red cells of patients with retinoblastoma.

ABSTRACT

Serum cholinesterase (ChE) and erythrocyte acetylcholineaterase (AChE) activities were determined in 25 patients with retinoblastoma as well as in 80 normal subjects. There was no significant difference between the mean values of serum ChE in the group of patients and the normal group. These patients had a significantly lower mean value of red cell AChE activity than that of the normal subjects (P<0.01). Eleven out of 25 (44%) patients had red cell AChE activity lower than the normal limits. There was no relationship between erythrocyte AChE activities and Hb, Ht, red cell and white cell counts. Only 2 (8%) and 5 (20%) patients showed bone marrow and liver involvement, respectively, while 9 (36%) patients were anaemic. The cause and mechanism of reduced erythrocyte AChE activity in patients with retinoblastoma was not exactly known. One possibility was that the chromosome defect which predisposed to retinoblastoma may be the cause of intrinsic cellular defect of AChE synthesis.