Assessment of Activity in Chronic Sarcoidosis: Usefulness of Serum Angiotensin Converting Enzyme and Gallium Scan

Abstract

Gallium scan and serum angiotensin converting enzyme (SACE) activity were performed in 39 patients, who were not receiving corticosteroids and had histologically proven chronic sarcoidosis of at least 2 years duration. Results of these investigations were compared with clinical assessment of disease activity. In patients with radiographic evidence of pulmonary parenchymal disease, the positive and negative predictive values for gallium scan and/or SACE were 96 and 100% respectively; however, in patients with no radiographic evidence of parenchymal disease the positive and negative predictive values were 50 and 100%, respectively. These findings suggest that SACE and gallium scan are useful in assessing the activity and hence the need for therapy in patients with chronic sarcoidosis with radiographic evidence of parenchymal disease.

Absolute quantitation of gallium-67 citrate accumulation in the lungs and its importance for the evaluation of disease activity in pulmonary sarcoidosis

“…Alberts and Van der Schoot (1988) reported that in a group of 28 patients with X-ray stage I, increased 6VGa lung uptake was observed in as many as 75% of cases. Similar findings were reported by Rohatgi and Kuzmowych (1986).…”

Metastatic Pulmonary Calcification in Sarcoidosis

“…Metastatic pulmonary calcifica tion is not gallium avid has been reported earlier [13], and is supported furhter by negative gallium scan in our patient. This is important to recognize because gallium scan, which is being used to assess and fol low granulomatous alveolitis of sarcoido sis [14] and alveolitis due to other causes, could still be used in the management of these inflammatory interstitial lung dis eases.…”