[Variants of serum cholinesterase (EC 3.1.1.8) in mentally retarded children].

Using screening, electrophoretic and spectrophotometric examinations, the authors studied the polymorphism of serum cholinesterase (CE) (CP 3.1.1.8) in children with undifferentiated oligophrenia. The rates of the identified phenotypes were as follows: CHE1U--0.769; CHE1UD--0.039; CHE1UF--0.192; CHE2(5-)-1.000. The incidence of the CHE1UF variant of the enzyme considerably exceeded that in the control groups (u = 2.44; u = 3.23) while the frequency of the CHE1U variant detection was significantly below that in the control groups (u = 2.70; u = 3.01; u = 3.46). The author discusses the advisability of the identification of CE variants in patients with psychoneurological diseases in order to prevent the development of side effects of myorelaxants and local anesthetics.