Clinical analysis of 20 cases of childhood acrodermatitis enteropathica

Abstract

Objective To investigate the clinical features of acrodermatitis enteropathica (AE). Methods A retrospective analysis was conducted on the clinical data of 20 children diagnosed with acrodermatitis enteropathica in the outpatient clinic at the dermatology department of our hospital. The serum levels of zinc and iron were compared between patients with acrodermatitis enteropathica and 20 health children. Results Among the 20 cases, the male-to-female ratio was 1∶1.22, with an average age of 10.12±7.05 months. The skin rashes commonly presented as erythemas, patches, scales, erosion and crusts, predominantly affecting the perioral, inguinal, perianal and extremity regions, and often accompanied by diarrhea and hair loss. The serum zinc levels in the patient group were lower than that in the controls [(7.39±3.51) μmol/L vs (12.40±2.57) μmol/L, t=-5.15, P<0.001], and the serum iron levels were also lower in the patient group than in the controls [(8.09±2.44) μmol/L vs (12.31±4.45) μmol/L, t=-3.17, P<0.001]. All patients showed good response to the treatment with zinc supplementation. Conclusions In clinic, acrodermatitis enteropathica should be suspected when pediatric patients exhibit perioral dermatitis, hair loss and diarrhea. Decreased serum zinc and iron levels can help the diagnosis.

Keywords

• acrodermatitis enteropathica
• children
• clinical features