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Test Code SOFT: Z0002 Angiotensin Converting Enzyme, Serum

Additional Codes

Ordering Mnemonic Mayo Test ID
EPIC NAME: ANGIOTENSION CONVERTING ENZYME ACE

 EPIC CODE: LAB179

 

Reporting Name

Angiotensin Converting Enzyme, S

Useful For

Evaluation of patients with suspected sarcoidosis

Method Name

Spectrophotometry (SP)

Performing Laboratory

Mayo Clinic Laboratories in Rochester

Specimen Type

Serum


Necessary Information


The use of angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE)-inhibiting antihypertensive drugs will cause decreased ACE values. Patients taking ACE inhibitors, such as captopril and enalapril, will have extremely low or unmeasurable ACE activity. Indicate on the request form if the patient is on ACE inhibitors.



Specimen Required


Collection Container/Tube:

Preferred: Serum gel

Acceptable: Red top

Submission Container/Tube: Plastic vial

Specimen Volume: 0.5 mL

Collection Instructions: Centrifuge and aliquot serum into a plastic vial


Specimen Minimum Volume

0.5 mL

Specimen Stability Information

Specimen Type Temperature Time Special Container
Serum Refrigerated (preferred) 7 days
  Frozen  180 days
  Ambient  24 hours

Reject Due To

Gross hemolysis Reject
Gross lipemia Reject
Gross icterus Reject

Reference Values

≥18 years: 16-85 U/L

0-17 years: Angiotensin converting enzyme activity may be 20-50% higher in healthy children compared to healthy adults.

 

For SI unit Reference Values, see https://www.mayocliniclabs.com/order-tests/si-unit-conversion.html

Day(s) Performed

Monday through Friday

CPT Code Information

82164

LOINC Code Information

Test ID Test Order Name Order LOINC Value
ACE Angiotensin Converting Enzyme, S 2742-5

 

Result ID Test Result Name Result LOINC Value
ACE Angiotensin Converting Enzyme, S 2742-5

Test Classification

This test has been cleared, approved, or is exempt by the US Food and Drug Administration and is used per manufacturer's instructions. Performance characteristics were verified by Mayo Clinic in a manner consistent with CLIA requirements.

Clinical Information

Angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) is integral to the renin-angiotensin system (RAS), which maintains blood pressure by regulation of fluid volume and vascular tension. Its peptidase action on the decapeptide angiotensinogen I results in the hydrolysis of a terminal histidyl leucine dipeptide and the formation of the octapeptide angiotensin II, a potent vasoconstrictor that increases blood pressure.

 

ACE activity is increased in sarcoidosis, a systemic granulomatous disease that commonly affects the lungs. In sarcoidosis, ACE is thought to be produced by epithelioid cells and macrophages of the granuloma.

 

ACE activity reflects the severity of sarcoidosis: 68% positivity in those with stage I sarcoidosis, 86% in stage II sarcoidosis, and 91% in stage III sarcoidosis.

 

Other conditions such as Gaucher disease, leprosy, untreated hyperthyroidism, psoriasis, premature infants with respiratory distress syndrome, adults with amyloidosis, and histoplasmosis have been associated with increased serum ACE activity.

Interpretation

An elevation in the level of serum angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE), along with radiographic evidence of infiltrates or adenopathy and organ biopsies showing noncaseating epithelial granulomas is suggestive of a diagnosis of sarcoidosis.

 

Normal, healthy children and infants are known to have ACE activity levels greater than the adult reference interval.

Cautions

Spinal fluid angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) activity to aid the diagnosis of neurosarcoidosis has been reported; however, there is insufficient evidence to support ACE being used for this purpose.

Clinical Reference

1. Liebermann J: Elevation of serum angiotensin-converting-enzyme (ACE) level in sarcoidosis. Am J Med. 1975;59:365-372

2. Rodriguez GE, Shin BC, Abernathy RS, Kendig EL Jr: Serum angiotensin-converting enzyme activity in normal children and in those with sarcoidosis. J Pediatr. 1981;99:68-72

3. Personal observations from a Mayo pediatric normal range study using a manual method (Hana)

4. Maguire GA, Price CP: A continuous monitoring spectrophotometric method for the measurement of angiotensin-converting enzyme in human serum. Ann Clin Biochem. 1985;22:204-210

5. Allen DW, Rajagopal V: Other adjunctive drugs for coronary intervention: beta-blockers, calcium-channel blockers, and angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors. In: Tropol EJ, Teirstein P, eds. Textbook of Interventional Cardiology. 8th ed. Elsevier; 2020:214-222

Method Description

Angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) catalyzes the conversion of angiotensin I to angiotensin II. The enzyme also mediates the cleavage of the synthetic substrate N-(3-[2-furyl]acryloyl)-L-phenylalanylglycylglycine (FAPGG) into an amino acid derivative and a dipeptide. The kinetic of this cleavage reaction is measured by recording the decrease in absorbance at 340 nm.(Package insert: Buhlmann ACE Kinetic; 01/2013)

Report Available

1 to 3 days

Specimen Retention Time

7 days

Disease States

  • Sarcoidosis

Forms

If not ordering electronically, complete, print, and send 1 of the following forms with the specimen:

-General Request (T239)

-Cardiovascular Test Request (T724)

Secondary ID

603622