[Behavior of serum cholinesterase and acetylcholinesterase activity in acute dimethoate poisoning]

With a patient who in suicidal intention had orally taken a larger quantity of Bi 58 EC (dimethoate) especially the behaviour of the serum cholinesterase activity and the whole blood acetylcholinesterase activity was observed over a period of 38 days and it was compared with the clinical appearance. For the serum cholinesterase activity and the acetylcholinesterase activity a three-phase course that with statistically proven adaption could be described only by a three-membered e-function could be shown. Till the 3rd day an extreme decrease of activity of 80-85 per cent occurred. Both cholinesterases provide the same information with regard to the consequences of intoxication. They are only quantitatively different from each other.