Zinc therapy of depressed cellular immunity in acrodermatitis enteropathica. Its correction
J. M. Oleske, M. L. Westphal, S. Shore, D. Gorden, J. D. Bogden and A. Nahmias
A child with hypogammaglobulinemia and intractable diarrhea underwent
parenteral alimentation for five months. A clinical syndrome of
acrodermatitis enteropathica subsequently developed associated with a
depression in thymus-dependent lymphocyte (T cell) numbers, abnormal T-cell
mitogen-induced blast transformation, and anergy to skin test antigens.
Plasma zinc levels were found to be abnormally low. Zinc therapy resulted
in dramatic resolution of the clinical manifestations of acrodermatitis
enteropathica. Cell-mediated immune function was also restored to normal,
suggesting an important role for zinc and possibly other trace metals in
cellular immune responses.
