Enteropathic acrodermatitis in a patient with high-out-put ileostomy

Abstract

Zinc deficiency is relatively common in certain pathologies, although its clinical manifestation is uncommon. We present the case of a patient who was admitted presenting hyponatremic dehydration and pre-renal failure secondary to high-output ileostomy and oral intolerance. Although the ileostomy output was normalized within 3 days of admission and initial zinc plasma levels were normal, after being fed with TPN supplemented with 13 mg/day of zinc, he suffered a severe zinc deficit with enteropathic acrodermatitis that was completely resolved after one week with 26.5 mg/day. However, plasma levels did not return to normal until one month on therapy with high doses of zinc. Zinc plasma levels are not a good indicator of zinc stores in the body and many times their changes are a late indicator of zinc deficit. There is not a correlation between the clinical improvement and normalization of zinc levels, being common the clinical resolution within few days of the supplementation without observing an increase of zinc plasma levels.

Keywords

• Ileostomía alto débito
• Acrodermatitis enteropática
• Zinc