[Acrodermatitis enteropathic treated with zinc sulfate. Report of a case]

A case is reported of a girl with acrodermatitis enteropathica who was treated succesfully with zinc sulfate at 75 mg/day PO. A remarkable increase in weight was evident through the course of 12 months of treatment, reaching the percentile 50 by the age of 3 years; however the height remained close to percentile 3. Possibly, the zinc deficiency is secondary to a selective defect in the metal absorption. Treatment with zinc sulfate in these patients substitutes with greate advantages the use of diiodohydroxyquin. Possibly, zinc supplements must be given for a life time to these patients.