Butyrylcholinesterase (BCHE) genotyping for post-succinylcholine apnea in an Australian population.

Background: Measurement of plasma butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) activity and inhibitor-based phenotyping are standard methods for identifying patients who experience post-succinylcholine (SC) apnea attributable to inherited variants of the BChE enzyme. Our aim was to develop PCR-based assays for BCHE mutation detection and implement them for routine diagnostic use at a university teaching hospital.

Methods: Between 1999 and 2002, we genotyped 65 patients referred after prolonged post-SC apnea.

ADH genotype does not modify the effects of alcohol on high-density lipoprotein.

Background: Alcohol consumption has beneficial effects on mortality which are mainly due to reduction in cardiovascular disease. These are believed to be due, at least in part, to the increase in plasma high-density lipoprotein (HDL) which is associated with alcohol consumption. It has been proposed that ADH3 genotype modifies the relationships between alcohol intake and cardiovascular disease by altering the HDL response to alcohol.