A CASE OF RENAL SARCOIDOSIS SHOWING CENTRAL NECROSIS AND ABNORMAL EXPRESSION OF ANGIOTENSIN-CONVERTING ENZYME IN THE GRANULOMA

We describe a 66-year-old man who developed renal failure related to g ranulomatous renal sarcoidosis without systemic manifestations. Renal failure was severe enough to require hemodialysis transiently. Renal b iopsy of this patient revealed the central necrosis of the granuloma w hich is usually absent in sarcoid granuloma. Serum level of angiotensi n converting enzyme (ACE) was not helpful for diagnosis in this patien t because serum ACE level is often elevated in the condition of chroni c renal failure. Immunohistochemical detection of ACE was of diagnosti c value in this patient. Subsequent course in which glucocorticoid was used for therapy was consistent with the diagnosis. This is the first report of identification of ACE in renal sarcoid granuloma.