Acrodermatitis enteropathica — therapeutic problems. Case report Acrodermatitis enteropathica - trudno ci terapeutyczne. Studium przypadku

Acrodermatitis enteropathica is a rare, autosomal recessive disorder proceeding with hypozincemia. Characteristic erythematous, scaly plaques are localized on periorificial and acral areas. Skin lesions are often accompanied by diarrhea, alopecia and rarely with emotional or neurological disturbances. The disease is a result of mutation in the SLC39A4 gene which encodes a zinc-regulated transporter-like protein ZIP4. Zinc as a component of many enzymes effects the course of metabolic processes, especially the structural protein synthesis and hormones and a proper function of the immune system. The characteristic clinical picture in relation to the decreased level of zinc and alkaline phosphatase in serum and histopathological examination of skin biopsy enables for the final diagnosis of acrodermatitis enteropathica. The treatment of acrodermatitis enteropathica is a long-lasting process but leads to the rapid and radical improvement of the patient's condition. A case of twelve-year-old girl with recognized acrodermatitis enteropathica in childhood, in which regularly occurring aggravations of skin lesions despite a solid oral zinc supplementation were observed, is reported in the article. Due to insufficient therapeutic effect an intravenous injections of a solution of trace elements containing zinc chloride were administered. After each supplementation of a drug a remission lasting about two to three weeks was observed.