Type of test Blood
Normal findings
8-53 U/L
Test explanation and related physiology
ACE is used to detect and monitor the clinical course of sarcoidosis. It is also used to differentiate sarcoidosis from other granulomatous diseases and to differentiate between active and dormant sarcoid disease.
Elevated ACE levels are found in a high percentage of patients with sarcoidosis. This test is used primarily in patients with sarcoidosis to evaluate the severity of disease and the response to therapy. Levels are especially high with active pulmonary sarcoidosis and can be normal with inactive (dormant) sarcoidosis. Elevated ACE levels also occur in conditions other than sarcoidosis, including Gaucher disease (a rare familial lysosomal disorder of fat metabolism), leprosy, alcoholic cirrhosis, active histoplasmosis, tuberculosis, Hodgkin disease, myeloma, scleroderma, pulmonary embolism, and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. ACE is elevated in the CSF of patients with neurosarcoidosis.
Interfering factors
• Patients younger than 20 years of age normally have very high ACE levels.
• Hemolysis or hyperlipidemia may falsely decrease ACE levels.
* Drugs that may cause decreased ACE levels include ACE inhibitor antihypertensives and steroids.
Procedure and patient care
• See inside front cover for Routine Blood Testing.
• Fasting: no
• Blood tube commonly used: red
• Note on the laboratory slip if the patient is taking steroids.
Abnormal findings
Increased levels
- Sarcoidosis
- Gaucher disease
- Tuberculosis
- Leprosy
- Alcoholic cirrhosis
- Active histoplasmosis
- Hodgkin disease
- Myeloma
- Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis
- Diabetes mellitus
- Primary biliary cirrhosis
- Amyloidosis
- Hyperthyroidism
- Scleroderma
- Pulmonary embolism
