Abstract
Pseudocholinesterase (serum cholinesterase, ChE) is a common marker of liver protein synthesis capacity in humans. Little is known about its role in hepatopathies in companion animals. The aim of the present study was to investigate the relevance of blood plasma ChE activity in cats suffering from hepatopathy. ChE activity and for comparison plasma albumin concentrations were measured in heparinised blood plasma samples of 132 cats with histologically confirmed hepatopathy (classified into seven different groups), in 12 cats with no histological liver abnormality and in a control group of 65 healthy cats. ChE activity was measured with a colorimetric assay that is based on the substrate butyrylthiocholine. All groups, including the group of sick cats with no histologically detectable liver abnormalities had decreased plasma ChE activities compared to the control group (P < 0.05). However, due to the wide reference range (462–7,147 U/L), only six of the 132 cats with histologically detectable liver diseases had ChE activities below the reference range. The overall sensitivity of ChE activity was significantly lower when compared to the plasma albumin concentration. The results indicate that single plasma ChE activity measurements have only limited value in assessing liver function in cats.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Adolph L (1979) Diagnostic significance of cholinesterase determination in human serum. Munch Med Wochenschr 121:1527–1539 [in German]
Al-Kassab AS, Vijayakumar E (1995) Profile of serum cholinesterase in systemic sepsis syndrome (septic shock) in intensive care unit patients. Eur J Clin Chem Clin Biochem 33:11–14
Areekul S, Srichairat S, Churdchu K, Yamarat P, Viravan C (1980) Serum cholinesterase activity in patients with malaria infection. Southeast Asian J Trop Med Public Health 11:498–501
Askar KA, Kudi AC, Moody AJ (2011) Comparative analysis of cholinesterase activities in food animals using Ellman and Michel assays. Can J Vet Res 75:261–270
Bain PJ (2003) Liver. In: Latimer KS, Mahaffey EA, Prasse KW (eds) Duncan & Prasse’s veterinary laboratory medicine. Clinical pathology, 4th edn. Blackwell Publishing, Iowa State Press, Ames, pp 193–214
Bradamante V, Smigovec E, Bukovic D, Geber J, Matanic D (2000) Plasma cholinesterase activity in patients with uterine cervical cancer during radiotherapy. Coll Antropol 24:373–380
Brown SS, Kalow W, Pilz W, Whittacker M, Woronick CL (1981) The plasma cholinesterases: a new perspective. Adv Clin Chem 22:1–123
Center SA (1996) Diagnostic procedures for evaluation of hepatic disease. In: Strombeck DR, Guildford WG, Center SA, Williams DA, Meyer DJ (eds) Strombeck’s small animal gastroenterology, 3rd edn. WB Saunders, Philadelphia, pp 130–188
Center SA, Magne ML (1990) Historical, physical examination, and clinicopathologic features of portosystemic vascular anomalies in the dog and cat. Semin Vet Med Surg (Small Anim) 5:83–93
Da Silva AS, Spanevello R, Stefanello N, Wolkmer P, Costa MM, Zanette RA, Lopes STA, Santurio JM, Schetinger MRC, Monteiro SG (2010) Influence of Trypanosoma evansi in blood, plasma, and brain cholinesterase of experimentally infected cats. Res Vet Sci 88:281–284
Den Blaauwen DH, Poppe WA, Tritschler W (1983) Cholinesterase (EC 3.1.1.8) with butyrylthiocholine-iodide as substrate: references depending on age and sex with special reference to hormonal effects and pregnancy. J Clin Chem Clin Biochem 21:381–386
Doumas BT, Watson WA, Biggs HG (1971) Albumin standards and the measurement of serum albumin with bromcresol green. Clin Chim Acta 31:87–96
Garello E, Battista S, Bar F, Niro GA, Cappello N, Rizetto M, Molino G (1999) Evaluation of hepatic function in liver cirrhosis: clinical utility of galactose elimination capacity, hepatic clearance of D-sorbitol, and laboratory investigations. Dig Dis Sci 44:782–788
Gu SZ, Zhao XH, Quan P, Li SB, Pan BR (2005) Alterations of serum cholinesterase in patients with gastric cancer. World J Gastroenterol 11:4604–4606
Jacob I, Spillmann T, Burkhardt E, Schneider M, Grünbaum E-G (2002) Sensitivity of different liver parameters for the diagnosis of hepatopathies in the cat. Tierarztl Prax 30:305–310, in German
Jokanovic M, Maksimovic M (1997) Abnormal cholinesterase activity: understanding and interpretation. Eur J Clin Chem Clin Biochem 35:11–16
Kamolz LP, Andel H, Greher M, Andel D, Meissl G, Frey M (2002) Serum cholinesterase activity in patients with burns. Clin Chem Lab Med 40:60–64
Knedel M, Böttger B (1967) A kinetic method for the determination of the activity of pseudocholinesterase (acylcholine acyl-hydrolase 3.1.1.8). Klin Wochenschr 45:325–327, in German
Knigg HN, Knaak JB (2000) Blood cholinesterases as human biomarkers of organophosphorus pesticide exposure. Rev Environ Contam Toxicol 163:29–111
Kutty KM (1980) Biological function of cholinesterase. Clin Biochem 13:239–243
La Du BN, Bartels CF, Nogueira CP, Hajra A, Lightstone H, Van der Spek A, Lockridge O (1990) Phenotypic and molecular biological analysis of human butyrylcholinesterase variants. Clin Biochem 23:423–431
Lepage L, Schiele F, Gueren R, Siest G (1985) Total cholinesterase in plasma: biological variations and reference limits. Clin Chem 31:546–550
Magarian EO, Dietz AJ (1987) Correlation of cholinesterase with serum lipids and lipoproteins. J Clin Pharmacol 27:819–820
Menache R, Kenda L, Shaked P, Schwartzman S, Lewinski U (1982) The prognostic value of serum acetylcholinesterase in myocardial infarction. Theoretical and clinical considerations. Res Exp Med 181:181–187
McQueen J (1995) Clinical and analytical considerations in the utilization of cholinesterase measurements. Clin Chim Acta 237:91–105
Nomura F, Ohnishi K, Koen H, Hiyama Y, Nakayama T, Itoh Y, Shirai K, Saitoh Y, Okuda K (1986) Serum cholinesterase in patients with fatty liver. J Clin Gastroenterol 8:599–602
Ogunkeye OO, Chuhwak EK, Otokwula AA (2009) Serum cholinesterase activity in the diagnosis of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease in type 2 diabetic patients. Pathophysiology 17:29–32
Rumbeiha WK, Oehme FW, Reid FM (1994) Toxicosis. In: Sherding RG (ed) The cat: diseases and clinical management, vol 1. Churchill Livingstone, New York, pp 215–251
Simon NM, Del Greco F, Dietz AA, Rubinstein HM (1969) Serum cholinesterase deficiency in renal failure. Trans Am Soc Artif Int Organs 15:328–332
Tecles F, Cerón JJ (2001) Determination of whole blood cholinesterase in different animal species using specific substrates. Res Vet Sci 70:233–238
Trundle D, Marcial G (1988) Detection of cholinesterase inhibition. The significance of cholinesterase measurements. Ann Clin Lab Sci 18:345–352
Vorhaus LJ, Kark RM (1953) Serum cholinesterase in health and disease. Am J Med 14:707–719
Way RC, Hutton CJ, Kutty KM (1975) Relationship between serum cholinesterase and low density lipoprotein in children with nephrotic syndrome. Clin Biochem 8:103–107
Williams FM (1985) Clinical significance of esterases in man. Clin Pharmacokinet 10:392–403
Wilson A, Calvert RJ, Geoghegan H (1952) Plasma cholinesterase activity in liver disease: its value as a diagnostic test of liver function compared with flocculation tests and plasma protein determinations. J Clin Invest 31:815–823
Yoshiba M, Sekiyama K, Inoue K, Yamada M, Kako M, Nagai K, Takatori M, Iwabuchi S, Sumino Y, Tanaka K, Hakozaki Y, Hasegawa K, Shibuya A (2002) Accurate prediction of fulminant hepatic failure in severe acute viral hepatitis: multicenter study. J Gastroenterol 37:916–921
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Mischke, R., Volbracht, J., von Reiswitz, A.M. et al. Pseudocholinesterase blood plasma activity and albumin concentration in cats with hepatopathies. Comp Clin Pathol 24, 427–434 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00580-014-1921-y
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00580-014-1921-y