Angiotensin-I-converting enzyme (ACE; angiotensin-converting enzyme; often just called for short: Angiotensin-converting enzyme) is an enzyme (zinc metalloprotease) in tissues by which it promotes the conversion of angiotensin-I to angiotensin-II.
Angiotensin-II itself promotes the secretion of antidiuretic hormone (ADH) and aldosterone, causing an increase in blood pressure.
The two forms of ACE can be distinguished:
- Somatic form – occurs in the cells of the body; mainly in the lungs, but also in the brain, kidneys and adrenal glands, and intestine.
- Germinal form – occurs in the mature sperm.
The process
Material needed
- Blood serum
Preparation of the patient
- Not required
Disruptive factors
- Not known
Normal value
- 8-52 U/l
Indications
- V. a. Sarcoidosis
Interpretation
Interpretation of increased values
- Active sarcoidosis (Besnier-Boeck disease) – granulomatous inflammation; it is considered an inflammatory multisystem disease, the cause of which is still unclear, affecting mainly the lungs, skin and lymph nodes.
- Berylliosis – disease caused by contact with beryllium compounds.
- Diabetes mellitus (diabetes) with retinopathy (disease of the retina of the eye).
- Hyperthyroidism (hyperthyroidism)
- Liver cirrhosis – connective tissue remodeling of the liver, which leads to functional limitations.
- Leprosy – chronic infectious disease caused by the bacterium Mycobacterium leprae.
- Lymphangiomatosis – clinical picture with either multiple lymphangiomas (multiple benign growths of the lymphatic vessels with expansive and infiltrative growth) or involvement of multiple organ systems.
- Gaucher disease – storage disease with storage of cerebrosides in the cells.
- Plasmocytoma – malignant (malignant) systemic disease; it is one of the non-Hodgkin’s lymphomas of B lymphocytes.
- Pneumoconioses (pulmonary dust diseases; pneumoconiosis).
- Asbestosis
- Silicosis
Interpretation of lowered values
- Endothelial dysfunction (malfunction of the inner walls of the vessel) of the vascular bed.
- Hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid gland).
- Toxic lung injury
