Pseudocholinesterase activity: determination and interpretation in pediatric anesthesia.

Pseudocholinesterase (PChE), also known as plasma cholinesterase, is a serine hydrolase capable of hydrolyzing esters including acetylcholine, succinylcholine, mivacurium and ester type local anesthetics such as procaine, chloroprocaine, tetracaine, cocaine and heroin. PChE is synthesized by the liver, and is found in the plasma, the pancreas, the heart and the brain. It has a serum half life of 8 to 12 days, and is an alpha 2 globulin, a tetramer of 342000 molecular weight, that exists in aggregate form.