[Increased concentration of angiotensin I converting enzyme in the alveolar fluid of patients with sarcoidosis].

Angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) was assayed both in serum (SACE) and in bronchoalveolar fluid lavage (LACE) in 14 healthy controls and in 45 patients with sarcoidosis with mediastinal and pulmonary involvement. Concentration of SACE was 4466 +/- 2202 U x 100 ml-1 (mean +/- SD) in sarcoidosis and 2470 +/- 547 U x 100 ml-1 (chi +/- SD) in sarcoidosis and 2470 +/- 547 U . 100 ml-1 in controls. Concentrations of LACE were 65.2 +/- 48.4 U . 100 ml-1 and 21.1 +/- 14.7 U . 100 ml-1 respectively in sarcoidosis and in controls. These results are in favor of an intraalveolar secretion of ACE in sarcoidosis. LACE could be a better criterium than SACE for the evaluation of the pulmonary activity of sarcoidosis.