 |
NAME | METHOD | REFERENCE RANGE | UNITS |
 |
Angiotensin Converting Enzyme | KS | 15 - 60 | Units |
|
TYPE | VOLUME | TEMPERATURE | INSTRUCTIONS |
| PRIMARY | ||||
| 1 | Serum | 1 (0.4) mL | Ambient - 7 Day(s), Refrigerated - 7 Day(s), Frozen - 2 Month(s) | |
| Angiotensin-converting enzyme is increased in some cases of active sarcoidosis. Sensitivity about 75%, specificity about 95%. The sensitivity increases with the stage of the disease. Serial ACE determinations may be helpful in following the clinical course of sarcoidosis or to monitor the effectiveness of corticosteroid therapy. Elevated ACE levels will return to normal in sarcoidosis as a result of spontaneous or corticosteroid-induced remission. Decreased ACE activity is found in patients having chronic obstructive lung disease, lung cancer, emphysema, and cystic fibrosis. Patients with active tuberculosis generally have decreased activity though approximately 6% will show increases in ACE levels. |
|
ACE activity in patients under captopril medication increases as a
function of the duration of storage. To prevent any loss of ACE inhibition, sera of patients under captropril medication should be assayed within 4 hours after blood collection. Specimens may be kept frozen (-7C) for up to 12 days. This phenomenon does not occur in sera of patients treated with other ACE inhibitors such as enalapril. Avoid hemolysis. |
