[Acrodermatitis enteropathica: disparity between clinical features and zinc blood levels]

A new case of acrodermatitis enteropathica in a 2.5 month old infant is presented. Oral administration of zinc sulfate (10 mg/kg/day) improved in a few days clinical and analytical pattern. In 1.5 months treatment was forsaken, reappearing after 22 days digestive and cutaneous symptoms. Serum zinc was then rather high (175 mcg/dl). Disparity between serum zinc and clinical features, suggest that in acrodermatitis enteropathica there is a lack in transport, not only in the enterocyte, but also in other cells of the body. Discerning dose and treatment duration must be assessed by clinical response rather than zinc serum level.