[Procollagen III-peptide and angiotensin converting enzyme in bronchoalveolar lavage in sarcoidosis]

In 39 cases with active and 36 cases with inactive sarcoidosis the angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) and in 56 of them (21 active/35 inactive sarcoidosis) procollagen-III-peptide (P III P) content as well as the total protein content of the broncho-alveolar lavage (BAL) and of the serum were determined. These results were compared with those of a control group of 53 patients (ACE group) resp. 25 patients (P III P-group). Both the relative ACE content (ACE related to 1 g of protein) and the relative P III P content (P III P related to 1 mg of protein) showed significant increase in cases of acute sarcoidosis compared to the other two groups of patients. However, none of the three groups showed statistically significant differences in the other parameters. ACE in the BAL can therefore be regarded as a good indication of the activity of sarcoidosis. This is also true of P III P in the BAL as an indication of fibrogenesis.