Bioingeniøren (Oct 2009)
Genotype-specific reference intervals for serum ACE
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to investigate if there was a basis for establishing genotype-specific reference intervals for serum ACE at the Department of Medical Biochemistry, St. Olavs Hospital in Trondheim. Serum ACE is used as a biochemical marker for sarcoidosis, an inflammatory disease that usually affects the lungs. A polymorphism in the ACE gene gives three genotypes with different serum ACE levels. Genotype-specific reference intervals may therefore potentially give more accurate diagnosis, treatment and control of the disease. In this study 300 blood samples were drawn from blood donors and analysed for serum ACE. In addition, DNA was isolated for the determination of ACE genotype. The analytical results were used to define reference intervals for ACE genotypes. No statistical significant difference between the medians of serum ACE for women and men was found. In addition, the results showed that serum ACE does not change with age. Statistical tests used showed that there were differences in median serum ACE levels between the ACE genotypes. The results give grounds for establishing genotype-specific reference intervals for serum ACE. However, the clinical relevance of the results should be studied further.
