Zinc Therapy of Acrodermatitis Enteropathica

Abstract

The therapeutic effect of orally administered zinc was evaluated in an adult woman with acrodermatitis enteropathica. When she was off therapy and in clinical relapse the plasma zinc concentration (10μg per 100 ml), serum alkaline phosphatase(3 IU per liter) and urine zinc excretion rate (39 μg per 24 hours) were extremely low. Di-iodohydroxyquin therapy was accompanied by a modest increase in plasmazinc concentrations. Oral zinc sulfate (220 mg three times a day or 50 mg twice a day) resulted in rapid and complete clinical remission, and in a return of plasmazinc, serum alkaline phosphatase and urinary zinc excretion to normal.