Angiotensin converting enzyme in bleomycin-treated patients.

Angiotensin converting enzyme activity (ACE) was measured in two patient groups treated with a bleomycin combination. One group, with squamous cell carcinoma was treated according to the Price et al. [1975] protocol, with low doses of bleomycin. The second group, with testicular tumors, was treated according to the Einhorn and Donohue [1977] protocol, with high doses of bleomycin. No change in serum angiotensin converting enzyme activity was observed in the low dosage group. A late and prolonged elevation, not connected to the acute injection, was observed in the high dosage group. There is an indication that the monitoring of ACE may be helpful in establishing the prognosis of the treated patients.