The angiotensin converting enzyme in pulmonary sarcoidosis and the relative diagnostic value of serum lysozyme

Steven K. Zorn, Cynthia A. Stevens, E. Neil Schachter, J. Bernard, L. Gee

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

16 Scopus citations

Abstract

The serum lysozyme and angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) levels in 39 untreated patients with sarcoidosis were compared to values obtained from 106 healthy subjects. Only minor variations due to age and sex could be demonstrated in the values of ACE and lysozyme in the healthy control groups. ACE and lysozyme activities were significantly elevated in sarcoidosis, and a correlation was established between the level of these enzymes in this disease (r=0.54, P<0.01). In addition, the serum ACE and lysozyme levels were studied in three groups of disorders which are occasionally confused with sarcoidosis, namely tuberculosis (10 patients), lymphoma (10 patients) and bronchogenic carcinoma (14 patients). In distinguishing sarcoidosis from these illnesses, ACE was demonstrated to be a more specific test than lysozyme as none of our other disease groups demonstrated elevated levels of ACE, but as many as 40% had elevated lysozyme levels. We suggest that in the presence of an appropriate clinical picture, an elevated serum ACE may be sufficient evidence to eliminate the need for biopsy in sarcoidosis.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)87-94
Number of pages8
JournalLung
Volume157
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - Dec 1979
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Angiotensin-converting enzyme
  • Lymphoma
  • Lysozyme
  • Sarcoidosis
  • Tuberculosis

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