Serum BCHE as an indicator of nutritional status in patients on home enteral nutrition

Introduction: Butyrylcholinesterase is an α-glycoprotein synthesized in the liver whose serum levels decrease in many clinical conditions such as acute and chronic liver damage, inflammation and malnutrition. Materials and methods: This study aims to confirm the role of butyrylcholinesterase as an indicator of nutritional status in 20 patients (8 women and 12 men; mean age 61.8±14.1 years, range 35-80) on home enteral nutrition referred to the Home Artificial Nutrition Outpatient Unit of Umberto I Hospital in Nocera Inferiore (Salerno), Italy. Results: When the data collected on the first visit and at 1- and 3-month follow-up were compared, the levels of butyrylcholinesterase (p=0.021) and albumin (p=0.005) were significantly increased at 3 months with respect to baseline values and were significantly correlated with each other (p=0.012; r=0.32). Conclusions: In patients with malnutrition, the level of butyrylcholinesterase is a valid marker of nutritional status and effectiveness of nutritional therapy. We therefore suggest the inclusion of its measurement in routine clinical diagnostic procedures in patients receiving home artificial nutrition. © 2013 SINPE-GASAPE.