Acetylcholinesterase activities in cerebrospinal fluid of patients with Plasmodium falciparum cerebral malaria.

Serum cholinesterase (CHE) and acetylcholinesterase (ACHE) in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) were determined simultaneously in 30 patients with P. falciparum cerebral malaria. Nineteen patients (63%) had low serum CHE and mean value of this serum enzyme in 30 patients was significantly lower than that of non-infected group. CSF ACHE levels were found to be significantly lower than those of normal subjects reported earlier. Post-treatment in the hospital for one week, both serum CHE and CSF ACHE levels in 9 convalescent subjects increased significantly. These findings indicated that both serum CHE and CSF ACHE levels were depressed in patients with cerebral malaria and increased on recovery.