We measured the cholinesterase activity in morning urines from 63 insulindependent
diabetics and 27 controls. The total esterase (TotE) activity (Ellman’s method) has
been divided into aliesterase (AliE), pseudocholinesterase and acetylcholinesterase by means of
two inhibitors, eserine and quinidine. Diabetics were divided in 2 groups according to the
urinary albumin/creatinine ratio (mg/mmol, < 2 in group 1, > 2 in group 2). The urinary
cholinesterase behavior was correlated with that of a known tubular lysosomal hydrolase,
N-acetyl-β-D-glucosaminidase (NAG). Compared to normals, in addition to a significant
increase in urinary NAG in diabetics (in group 2 more than in group 1 ), TotE and AliE were also
significantly raised (+36% and 109% of the controls, in group 1 as much as in group 2).