RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Serum type I and type III procollagen peptide levels in sarcoidosis
JF European Respiratory Journal
JO Eur Respir J
FD European Respiratory Society
SP 1648
OP 1651
DO 10.1183/09031936.96.09081648
VO 9
IS 8
A1 L Bacchella
A1 C Tinelli
A1 LS Gile
A1 V Peona
A1 C Aprile
A1 M Gorrini
A1 L Pasturenzi
A1 G Cetta
A1 M Luisetti
YR 1996
UL http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/9/8/1648.abstract
AB Type I and type III are the most abundant collagens in the lung. The aim of our study was to compare type I and III procollagen peptides in sera of sarcoid patients. Sixty eight patients with sarcoidosis were studied (19 with newly recognized disease, 7 with relapsing disease, 15 with chronic disease, and 27 in stable remission). Thirty healthy volunteers served as controls. The levels of procollagen I and III peptides were determined by radioimmunoassay. Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) level was evaluated by means of a colorimetric assay. In patients with newly recognized sarcoidosis, both serum procollagen I and III peptide levels were increased with respect to controls (p=0.0014 and p<0.00001, respectively). There was a poor correlation between levels of procollagen I and III (r=0.26), whereas there was a closer correlation between procollagen III and ACE (r=0.69). Procollagen I peptide level did not identify patients in roentgenological stage III. In conclusion, in patients with newly recognized sarcoidosis there is a significant increase in the serum level of procollagen I peptide. However, procollagen I peptide is not a marker of sarcoid patients with fibrosis, ie. stage III disease. Its clinical usefulness seems to be weaker than that of procollagen III peptide.