| pubmed-article:6315114 | pubmed:abstractText | Angiotensin converting enzyme activity (ACE), albumin, potassium, and alpha1-antitrypsin were measured in the serum and in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BAL) of 10 normal control subjects and of 19 cases of extrinsic allergic alveolitis (EAA). Among these 19 patients, 6 had a acute form of extrinsic alveolitis, 8 a subacute or chronic form, and 5 received a steroid therapy. Serum ACE is not increased in the acute forms of extrinsic alveolitis, but is significantly lower than control values in the subacute and chronic forms (p less than 0.04) and in patients under steroid therapy (p less than 0.002). The ACE/albumin, ACE/potassium, ACE/IgG and ACE/alpha1-antitrypsin ratios were measured in sera and BAL fluids. The results suggest that ACE is selectively transported across the alveolar capillary septum into the alveolar space. This transport, very important in control subjects, decreases in the subacute and chronic forms and in patients under steroid therapy. In the acute forms, the high level of ACE in BAL fluid is not due to an increased secretion of ACE, but is the result of an increased passive transudation of ACE from the vascular compartment across the inflammatory alveolar capillary septum. | lld:pubmed |
