Serum Procollagen III Peptide Levels in Subjects with Sarcoidosis: A 5-Year Follow-up Study

In a prospective study, type III procollagen N-terminal peptide was measured in the sera of 38 subjects with biopsy-proven pulmonary sarcoidosis at 6-month intervals over a period of 5 yr. The subjects were divided into four groups according to their radiologic presentation and clinical course: Group A (n = 10) subjects with sarcoidosis Type I without radiologic progression over 5 yr; Group B (n = 5) subjects with sarcoidosis type I with radiologic progression to Stage II or III; Group C (n = 9) subjects with sarcoidosis Types II and III without progression over 5 yr; and Group D (n = 14) subjects with sarcoidosis Types II and III with radiologic progresssion. Lung function tests (FVC, FEV1, and DlCO), chest roentgenograms, and measurements of serum angiotensin converting enzyme (S-ACE) were performed concurrently with the S-PCP-III levels. Significantly higher levels of S-PCP-III were found in group B (Type I, progressive) (18.2 ± 1.08 ng/ml) and in group D (Type II/III, progressive) (13.9 ±1.2 ng/ml) co...