serum ACE levels in sarcoidosis
Last reviewed 01/2018
Sarcoidal granulomas produce angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE)
- elevated ACE levels are seen in 60% of sarcoidosis patients
- levels are influenced by gene polymorphism (1)
Although many clinicians check serum ACE levels, the importance of it in the diagnosis or managing sarcoidosis is debatable (1,2):
- as a diagnostic tool it has limited sensitivity and specificity (1)
- BTS guidelines also mention that serum ACE levels has a limited role in the diagnosis and it does not contribute to monitoring patients with pulmonary sarcoidosis when added to serial lung function and imaging (3)
Reference:
- 1. Iannuzzi MC, Rybicki BA, Teirstein AS. Sarcoidosis. N Engl J Med. 2007;357(21):2153-65
- 2.Dempsey OJ et al. Sarcoidosis. BMJ. 2009 Aug 28;339:b3206
- 3. Bradley B et al.Interstitial lung disease guideline: the British Thoracic Society in collaboration with the Thoracic Society of Australia and New Zealand and the Irish Thoracic Society. Thorax. 2008;63 Suppl 5:v1-58.