Angiotensin Converting Enzyme (ACE) Assay for spinal fluid BÜHLMANN ACE high sensitivity 130 test suspected & confirmed neurosarcoidotic patients

Angiotensin Converting Enzyme (ACE ) is a membrane-bound glycoprotein produced by epithelioid cells of granulomatous tissue and was first reported to be increased in CSF in patients with neurosarcoidosis in the mid-1980s by Schweisfurth et al. Elevated levels understandably occur with other granulomatous diseases (typically rare in neurologic practice) but reports also suggest increased levels in association with CNS tumours and infections such as meningitis. Sarcoidosis is a multisystem granulomatous disorder of unknown etiology and can be present in any organ system. Most commonly it occurs in lungs, followed by the eyes and integument. Nervous system involvement is present in approximately 5% of cases. Multi organ involvement is a strong clue pointing to sarcoidosis, but the disease may be restricted to the nervous system. Diagnosis may be difficult, or at least delayed, because the clinical presentation and course of the disease is heterogeneous.

The BÜHLMANN ACE high sensitive assay is designed to quantify reproducibly increased ACE activity in CSF samples from suspected and confirmed neurosarcoidotic patients to help diagnose and monitor the disease. It is often requested as part of an investigation into the cause of a group of long troubling symptoms that may or may not be due to sarcoidosis. ACE will be elevated in 50-80% of patients with active sarcoidosis. If it is initially elevated in someone with sarcoidosis, ACE can be requested at regular intervals to monitor the course of the disease and the effectiveness of corticosteroid treatment. Falling concentrations usually indicate a favourable prognosis. Rising concentrations of ACE on the other hand, may indicate either an early disease process that is progressing, or disease activity that is not responding to therapy.

Product Details:
Sample Type: CSF- Collect at least 250 μl CSF by lumbar puncture and store it at 2-8°C for up to 24 h or at -20°C for longer storage. Serum - Since EDTA inhibits ACE activity, serum specimen should be used for the determination of ACE activity.
Collect sufficient blood (at least 0.5 ml) by venipuncture into an appropriate tube without anticoagulant. Coagulate for 2-3 hours at room temperature, centrifuge at 4°C and 1000 x g and collect the serum. Freeze the serum specimen at –20°C if not assayed within 5 days. ACE activity in sterile serum is stable for up to 30 days at 2-8°C and 6 months at –20°C. To avoid lipemic sera, blood samples should be taken from fasting patients.
Sample volume: CSF = 250µl, Serum = 0.5ml blood
Test Range: 1.5 - 24U/l
Sensitivity: 1U/l
Test Time: 30 minutes
Number of tests: 130
CE marked: Yes