title: [Angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) a bloodtest for diagnosis of sarcoidosis (author's transl)].
abstract: Serum angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) was studied in 50 patients with sarcoidosis (39 active, 11 inactive) as well as in 50 control patients (34 with chronic nonspecific lung disease, 9 with Hodgkin and 7 with rheumatoid arthritis). There was a significant difference of ACE activity between sarcoidosis patients (28.6 +/- 11.4) and controls (14.8 +/- 4), and also between active (32.8 +/- 11) and the inactive (21.9 +/- 5.1) sarcoidosis (p less than 0.001). Coricosteroid treatment seems to lower ACE activity in patients with sarcoidosis without offering a clue for clinical improvement. Increased ACE activity in other granulomatous disorders is being discussed. ACE activity thus proves to be a valuable test especially in differentiating active from inactive sarcoidosis.
mesh_terms: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006626:Hippurates / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007731:Kveim Test; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D007703:Peptidyl-Dipeptidase A / Q000378:metabolism*; D012507:Sarcoidosis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy
chemical_list: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones; D006626:Hippurates; D007703:Peptidyl-Dipeptidase A
vernacular_title: Angiotensin Converting Enzyme (ACE) Ein in vitro-Test für die Sarkoidose-Diagnostik.