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Ultrastructural alterations of Paneth cells in infants associated with gastrointestinal symptoms
Insights
Abnormal Paneth cells with inclusion bodies, once thought unique to acrodermatitis enteropathica, are common in infants with gastrointestinal issues. This finding suggests a link to secondary zinc deficiency from malnutrition.
Area of Science:
- Gastroenterology
- Pediatric Pathology
- Nutritional Science
Background:
- Paneth cells with inclusion bodies are a known feature of acrodermatitis enteropathica.
- The presence of these abnormal Paneth cells has been considered a characteristic diagnostic marker.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the prevalence of abnormal Paneth cells in children with various gastrointestinal diseases.
- To determine if the observed Paneth cell abnormality is specific to acrodermatitis enteropathica or a more general finding.
Main Methods:
- Histological examination of intestinal biopsies from 34 children with gastrointestinal symptoms.
- Comparison of Paneth cell morphology across different underlying pediatric diseases.
Main Results:
- Abnormal Paneth cells with inclusion bodies were found in a significant proportion of children studied.
- The abnormality was particularly prevalent in infants under one year of age.
- Similar Paneth cell changes were observed across various gastrointestinal conditions, not limited to acrodermatitis enteropathica.
Conclusions:
- The presence of abnormal Paneth cells is not exclusive to acrodermatitis enteropathica.
- This Paneth cell abnormality is likely a secondary effect of zinc deficiency, often resulting from malnutrition in infants.
- Further investigation into zinc status is warranted in infants presenting with gastrointestinal symptoms and abnormal Paneth cells.
Abstract:
Paneth cells containing abundant and large inclusion bodies found in patients with acrodermatitis enteropathica have been considered as a consistent and characteristic abnormality of this disease. We examined 34 children with gastrointestinal symptoms due to a wide variety of basic diseases and found similar abnormal Paneth cells in most of them, particularly in infants under the age of one year. This abnormality, according to our findings, is attributed to the secondary effect of zinc deficiency due to malnutrition.