A Case of Acrodermatitis Enteropathica Associated with CMV Hepatitis

Kim, Kwang Yeol; Park, Jae Ock; Shin, Sang Mann

Abstract

Acrodermatitis enteropethica (AE) is a rare autosomal recessive disorder of zinc absorption leading to chronic diarrhea and characteristic skin lesion. The term is also applied to any acquired zinc deficiency state resulting in the same clinical pictures. We experienced one case of AE in 1 month old male infant who had bacterial enterocolitis. The skin around mouth, anus, eyes, ears, hands and legs became reddish, vesicular and eczematoid. Serum zinc level was decreased to 51.4 microgram/dL (N=70~150). Endoscopic finding revealed pale gastric mucosa and villous atrophy of small intestine. Biopsy finding of small intestine showed no villi due to mucosal atrophy. On 13 day of admission jaundice with DIC were noted and AST & ALT were elevated to 110 & 36.8 IU/L, respectively. Diarrhea was improved but jaundice and liver function were not recovered until discharge from hospital. After discharge when the patient was 4 months of age serum bilirubin and AST/ALT had not been normalized. CMV shell vial culture of urine and CMV Ig G antibody were positive. So intravenous ganciclovir injection of 7.5 mg/kg, two times a day for 2 weeks and then 10 mg/kg/day for 3 months was done from 4 to 6 months of age. No virus was found in the urine and AST & ALT were normalized at 2 months after stopping ganciclovir treatment.