Familiality of monocyte esterase deficiency in patients on continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis.

The purpose of this study was to determine whether or not peripheral blood monocyte esterase deficiency occurring in patients on CAPD was a familial characteristic. The peripheral blood monocyte esterase status of 74 patients on CAPD was determined by a naphthyl acetate esterase staining of cytospin preparations of their mononuclear cells following separation over ficoll. The peripheral blood of first degree relatives and spouses of monocyte esterase deficiency patients was similarly investigated for the deficiency. Three patients bad monocyte esterase deficiency and familiality of the defect was demonstrated in two of their families. The third family was incompletely investigated because of lack of consent. The monocyte esterase deficiency demonstrated in this cohort of patients did not result from their renal failure but was a familial characteristic.