Erythrocyte acetylcholinesterase activity in Hirschsprung's disease in Israel

Hirschsprung's disease is a relatively prevalent disorder in newborn babies and young children. Acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity is augmented locally, in the neural plexus of the affected gut segment. It has been suggested that this enzyme will also be increased in red blood cells (RBCs) of affected children. Thus, we studied AChE activity in newborn babies and children, as well as age-adjusted data. This Israeli study consisted of healthy and affected Bedouins as well as Ashkenazi and Sephardic Jews. This study supports the Japanese study in that the RBC AChE is not augmented in Hirschsprung's disease. However, final conclusions cannot yet be drawn, because of the small sample.