[Angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) a bloodtest for diagnosis of sarcoidosis (author's transl)].

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.