Acrodermatitis Enteropathica: Case Report Analyses of Zinc Metabolism, Electron Microscopic Examination, and Immune Function

This case report detailed an 11-year-old girl with acrodermatitis enteropathica (AE), a rare autosomal recessive disorder affecting zinc metabolism, which manifested with rashes, growth retardation, partial alopecia, and other symptoms. Laboratory tests showed decreased zinc levels in various body compartments despite normal absorption, and electron microscopy revealed Paneth cell inclusions in the intestinal mucosa. Abnormalities were also noted in lymphocyte subpopulations and neutrophil chemotaxis. The patient's symptoms resolved completely within weeks following oral zinc therapy.