[Angiotensin converting enzyem (ACE) - a blood chemistry parameter in the diagnosis of sarcoidosis].

Serum angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) activity was studied in 50 patients with sarcoidosis (39 active, 11 inactive sarcoidosis), as well as in 50 control patients (34 chronic lung diseases, 9 Hodgkin-disease, 7 rheumatoid arthritis). There is a significant difference (p less than 0.001) of ACE-activity between sarcoidosis patients and controls, and between active (without steroid treatment) and inactive sarcoidosis. Steroid treatment apparently lowers ACE-activity in sarcoidosis, however, without evidence for clinical improvement. Increased ACE-activity was also found in a patient with primary biliary cirrhosis.