[Change in activity of angiotensin-converting enzyme in pneumonia and chronic obstructive lung diseases].

Aim: To study the activity of angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) in patients with pneumonia and chronic obstructive lung diseases (COLD).

Material And Methods: Sixty nine patients with pneumonia and 77 with COLD were examined. The activity of ACE in the serum and bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) and the effects of leukocytic elastase and concentrations of zinc, endogenous inhibitors, and activators were studied.