[Elevation of serum angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) during treatment]

It has been observed that lung tuberculosis shows a similar pathological feature with that of sarcoidosis. Serum angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) was elevated in sarcoidosis. In the present study, serum ACE was measured in pulmonary tuberculosis patients. 1. ACE showed lower level in active tuberculosis. Elevation of serum ACE, however, was observed during the treatment. 2. Serum ACE was low in cases with chronic fibrotic pulmonary tuberculosis with extensive shadows on chest X-P. 3. Improvement of infiltrative shadows on chest X-P paralleled with the elevation of serum ACE. It was suggested that the new development of lung capillary endothelium might cause the elevation of ACE during the improving process of active pulmonary tuberculosis.