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Acrodermatitis Enteropathica During Adequate Enteral Nutrition
Author(s) -
Changela Avani,
Javaiya Hemangkumar,
Changela Kinesh,
Davanos Evangelia,
Rickenbach Kiersten
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
journal of parenteral and enteral nutrition
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.935
H-Index - 98
eISSN - 1941-2444
pISSN - 0148-6071
DOI - 10.1177/0148607111407639
Subject(s) - acrodermatitis enteropathica , medicine , parenteral nutrition , acrodermatitis , zinc deficiency (plant disorder) , micronutrient , dermatology , malnutrition , rash , pediatrics , surgery , pathology , alternative medicine
Acrodermatitis enteropathica is a rare skin disorder of zinc deficiency. This case report describes a 91‐year‐old female nursing home resident who presented with a skin eruption resembling acrodermatitis enteropathica while receiving adequate enteral nutrition (EN) via a percutaneous gastrostomy tube. A low zinc level of 36 mcg/dL confirmed zinc deficiency, and treatment with oral zinc sulfate 220 mg 3 times a day resulted in rapid resolution of the skin lesions. This case supports the notion of close monitoring of patients on long‐term EN for clinical manifestations of zinc deficiency, especially in the presence of an unexplained skin rash. Although micronutrient deficiencies are more prevalent in underdeveloped countries and with patients receiving parenteral nutrition, these deficiencies should be kept in mind for patients in developed countries as well as patients receiving EN.