Acrodermatitis Enteropathica: Zinc Levels and Cell-Mediated Immunity
1 Janeway Child Health, St Johns, Newfoundland, Canada
Acrodermatitis enteropathica (AE) is a rare vesicobullous skin disorder.1 Genealogic data suggest an autosomal recessive mode of inheritance. The onset of symptoms is generally insidious. In breastfed infants, the disorder may be precipitated on weaning to cow's milk. The frequent occurrence of secondary infections, particularly with opportunistic fungi and bacteria, led to the suspicion that AE is associated with immunodeficiency. "Dysgammaglobulinemia" has been reported in one infant2 and defective chemotaxis in another three patients.3 Limited autopsy observations showed atrophic thymus, tonsils, germinal centers, and Peyer patches.2,4 We report variable impairment of cell-mediated immunity in ten patients with AE of whom eight had low plasma zinc levels.
This article has been cited by other articles:
![]() |
M. K. Baum, G. Shor-Posner, and A. Campa Zinc Status in Human Immunodeficiency Virus Infection J. Nutr., May 1, 2000; 130(5): 1421S - 1423. [Abstract] [Full Text] |
||||
![]() |
E. Mocchegiani and M. Muzzioli Therapeutic Application of Zinc in Human Immunodeficiency Virus against Opportunistic Infections J. Nutr., May 1, 2000; 130(5): 1424S - 1431. [Abstract] [Full Text] |
||||
![]() |
R. K. Chandra Nutrition, immunity and infection: From basic knowledge of dietary manipulation of immune responses to practical application of ameliorating suffering and improving survival PNAS, December 10, 1996; 93(25): 14304 - 14307. [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
P. J. Fraker, P. Jardieu, and J. Cook Zinc Deficiency and Immune Function Arch Dermatol, December 1, 1987; 123(12): 1699 - 1701. [Abstract] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
D. Norris Zinc and Cutaneous Inflammation Arch Dermatol, August 1, 1985; 121(8): 985 - 989. [Abstract] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
T. J. Connors, D. B. Czarnecki, and M. I. Haskett Acquired Zinc Deficiency in a Breast-fed Premature Infant Arch Dermatol, April 1, 1983; 119(4): 319 - 321. [Abstract] [PDF] |
||||







