Acrodermatitis Enteropathica: Case Report Analyses of Zinc Metabolism, Electron Microscopic Examination, and Immune Function
January 2000
in “
The Journal of Trace Elements in Experimental Medicine
”
TLDR Zinc supplementation effectively treats acrodermatitis enteropathica symptoms.
This case report analyzed an 11-year-old girl with acrodermatitis enteropathica (AE), a rare genetic disorder affecting zinc metabolism, leading to symptoms like growth retardation, partial alopecia, and skin eruptions. Despite normal zinc absorption, her zinc levels were low across various body compartments. An intestinal biopsy showed Paneth cell inclusions, and immune function tests revealed abnormalities. Oral zinc therapy (ZnSO4, 2 mg/kg/day) effectively resolved her symptoms within weeks, highlighting the critical role of zinc supplementation in managing AE.
