Angiotensin Converting Enzyme (ACE): A New Gate in Assessment & Treatment of Pediatric Pneumonia

In the Present Case:control study, detection of Angiotensin Converting Enzyme (ACE) Polymorphism among admitted children suffering from community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) was performed to investigate the association between ACE polymorphism and the risk and outcome of CAP. The study was conducted on 77 children with CAP and 73 healthy age- and sex- matched controls. Cases were subjected to a complete clinical study and investigations were performed: Complete Blood Count (CBC), chest x- ray (CXR), C - reactive protein (CRP), Erythrocytic Sedimentation Rate (ESR) in the first hour, and Angiotensin Converting Enzyme Insertion/Deletion (ACE I/D) Polymorphism using polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The study yielded the following results: The present study couldn’t demonstrate a significant association between different types of ACE genotypes of ACE polymorphism in relation to pneumonia risk (P value >0.05). There was no statistically significant association between different genotypes of ACE polymorphism in pneumonia patients and outcome of pneumonia (oxygen need, ICU admission, need for mechanical ventilation, death & hospital stay more than 1 week) (P value >0.05).

The study concludes that ACE polymorphism has no significant relation to risk & outcome of pediatric pneumonia. Therefore, further studies in this topic should be conducted.