THE ROLE OF CHITOTRIOSIDASE ACTIVITY AS A PROGNOSTIC BIOMARKER IN SARCOIDOSIS

Abstract

Introduction: Chitotriosidase (ChT) is a chitinase that is massively expressed by lipid-laden tissue macrophages in human beings. The aim of this study was to compare ChT activities in the serum and bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid and serum ChT levels with serum angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) levels in patients with newly diagnosed pulmonary sarcoidosis (SARC), pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) and interstitial lung disease (ILD), all of which create difficulties in the differential diagnosis in daily practice.