Acute Zinc Depletion Syndrome During Parenteral Hyperalimentation

In 1979, a case report described a patient with short bowel syndrome who developed acute zinc depletion syndrome (AZDS) during parenteral hyperalimentation, despite receiving twice the normal daily zinc requirement. The patient exhibited symptoms like alopecia, dermatitis, and mucosal lesions, which are characteristic of AZDS and similar to acrodermatitis enteropathica. The diagnosis was confirmed by the patient's positive clinical response to zinc supplementation, as serum zinc levels were not a reliable indicator of zinc status. The patient's skin and mucosal symptoms resolved quickly with zinc therapy, but alopecia recovery was slower. The report highlighted the importance of considering AZDS in patients showing relevant symptoms during hyperalimentation and suggested a therapeutic trial of zinc for both diagnosis and treatment.