Clinical Significance and Precision analysis of Angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) in suspected and Confirmed cases of sarcoidosis

Junaid Mahmood Alam, Sheikh Mateenuddin, Sheikh Khalid Mahmood, Syed Riaz Mahmood Department of Biochemistry lab services and Chemical Pathology, Karachi, Pakistan. Department of Pathology, Govt Lyari General Hospital, Karachi, Pakistan (*Corresponding author; Dr Junaid Mahmood Alam, [email protected]) 1. Abstract: . Background: Angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) is known to be elevated in cases of Sarcoidosis. Aim: The present study described the precision analysis of ACE and clinical correlation with different groups of patients either suspected of sarcoidosis or confirmed cases, waiting for or undergoing treatments. Materials and Methods: Study covered the period of Dec 2013 to Dec 2015. Data of 100 patients that were either suspected cases of sarcoidosis or confirmed were retrieved, reviewed and classified into Group I, II, III (groups of suspected cases) according to their ACE levels and IV-that were confirmed cases of sarcoidosis. ACE was analyzed in serum of patients according to the established standard methods. For precision analyses, samples from each group, that were analyzed simultaneously in two instruments of Randox Monza (Randox UK), were plotted using regression correlation methodology to retrieve R. ACE levels of each group I, II, III and IV were compared with each other and with healthy control subjects using student’s t-test and level of significance as P < 0.05. Results: Precision analysis of ACE levels in group I showed R2 of 0.99 depicting instrument to instrument precision of 99% for ACE analyte ranges of 15-30 U/L. Similarly ACE precision comparison of groups II and III showed R2 of 0.98 and 0.99, exhibiting significant correlation of analytical precision. Comparison of ACE of Group I = 22.7 ± 4.60 U/L with groups II (36.6 ± 7.75 U/L) and III (47.6 ± 6.15 U/L) exhibited P < 0.01, whereas with group IV (55.10 ± 8.90 U/L) as P < 0.001. Conclusion: Data depicted significant correlation of ACE level (P< 0.001) in patients with sarcoidosis as compared to those with suspicion of initial stages of the same. Precision analysis also manifested R2 of 0.98 to 0.99, suggesting significant instrument to instrument accuracy and precision.