Background

Serum cholinesterase is an enzyme produced mainly by hepatocytes.In chronic liver disease, serum cholinesterase activity is reduced due to decreased synthesis. Although the serum albumin may be reduced in hepatic failure, it may be decreased in nephrotic Syndrome, severe malnutrition, protein losing enteropathy. The association between serum cholinesterase level and chronic liver diseases did not seek much attention. Therefore, this study was designed to explore the serum cholinesterase levels in chronic liver diseases.

Objectives

To estimate the serum cholinesterase level in chronic liver disease patients and to compare the serum cholinesterase level with liver function parameterslike serum Aspartate Transaminase,serum Alanine transaminase, serum Alkaline Phosphatase, serum Bilirubin, serum protein and albumin levels in chronic liver diseases.

Materials and Methods

This case–control study was conducted among 102 chronic liver disease patients. Age and sex matched apparently healthy individuals were included as controls. Serum cholinesterase was estimated and compared with liver function test parameters. Pearson`s correlation test was done to correlate serum cholinesterase and serum albumin.

Results

The mean age group of cases and controls were 53 ± 10 and 52 ± 10. The etiology of chronic liver disease was consumption of alcohol in 72.54%. The mean of serum cholinesterase in cases and controls were 2314 ± 1413 and 7883 ± 1012 respectively.Serum cholinesterase was correlated positively with albumin (r = 0.712, P = 0.00) in the chronic liver disease patients.

Conclusion

Serum cholinesterase was significantly reduced in chronic liver diseases. Hence, Serum cholinesterase can also be included to analyse the synthetic capacity of liver and in the diagnosis of liver dysfunction.