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Query: UMLS:C0024523 (malabsorption)
 7,319 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

Zinc is essential for many metabolic and enzymatic functions in man. Deficiency of zinc in man has now been recognized to occur not only as a result of nutritional factors, but also in various disease states, including malabsorption syndromes, acrodermatitis enteropathica, Crohn's disease, alcoholism and cirrhosis of the liver. The deficiency state in human subjects exists as a spectrum extending from mild to severe degree. The clinical manifestations of mild zinc deficiency include oligospermia, weight loss and hyperammonaemia. Moderate zinc deficiency is characterized clinically by growth retardation, hypogonadism in males, skin changes, poor appetite, mental lethargy, delayed wound healing, taste abnormalities and abnormal dark adaptation. In severe zinc deficiency states, bullous-pustular dermatitis, alopecia, diarrhoea, emotional disorders, weight loss, intercurrent infections, hypogonadism in males and, if unrecognized, death have been observed. Zinc is needed for the functions of over 100 enzymes. It is essential for DNA, RNA and protein synthesis and, as such, is important for cell division. Zinc is an inducer of mRNA of metallothionein, a protein which may have an important role in the regulation of intestinal zinc absorption. Zinc has a specific effect on testes in animals and man. Recent reports indicate that in human subjects thymopoietin may be zinc dependent and in animal studies somatomedin may be affected adversely due to dietary zinc restriction. Zinc plays an important role in the protection of cell membrane integrity and may be protective against free radical injury. Zinc is known to compete with cadmium, lead, copper, iron and calcium for similar binding sites. In the future, a potential use of zinc may be to alleviate toxic effects of cadmium and lead in human subjects. Recent evidence suggests that thymic-dependent lymphocytes (T cells are zinc dependent. T-helper and suppressor cells, T-effector cells and T-natural killer cells appear to be zinc dependent. Zinc is also essential for some of the neutrophil functions. Thus, it appears that zinc may play an important role in immunity. One may suggest that some of the clinical features of cirrhosis of the liver, such as testicular atrophy, loss of body hair, night blindness, poor wound healing, poor appetite, susceptibility to infections and enhanced sensitivity to drugs, may be related to conditioned deficiency of zinc, future studies are required to determine whether or not zinc supplementation is beneficial to these patients.
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PMID:The role of zinc in gastrointestinal and liver disease. 661 39

Lysozyme levels were determined in the mucosa of gut in 80 children with chronic inflammatory bowel disease, malabsorption and acrodermatitis enteropathica.l Levels of lysozyme in the mucosa of colon were found to be significantly higher in cases with chronic inflammatory bowel disease, whereas in children with malabsorption (celiac disease) concentration of lysozyme in the mucosa of small intestine were significantly lower compared to a control group. In a 4 months old boy with acrodermatitis enteropathica there was a low level of lysozyme in the mucosa of the small intestine. After therapy with zinc for one year concentration of lysozyme was normalized.
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PMID:[Lysozyme concentrations in the intestinal mucosa in malabsorption syndromes and chronic inflammatory intestinal diseases]. 669 40

Protracted diarrhoea in early infancy gives rise to many diagnostic and therapeutic problems. Jejunal biopsy often reveals villous atrophy of varying degrees. Severe reduction of small intestinal absorptive area causes secondary monosaccharide malabsorption, as well as secondary disaccharide deficiency, consequences which are relevant in any attempts at oral feeding. Morphologic, metabolic, endocrinological and microbiological studies have to be undertaken in order to establish a definitive diagnosis in protracted diarrhoea, but these studies often fail to reveal the aetiology of the disease. Immunologic abnormalities like phagocyte dysfunction, thymic atrophy and hypoplasia of B-cell regions in lymph nodes might be secondary events, but some types of immunodeficiency are of primary importance in the development of protracted diarrhoea. Total parenteral nutrition in many cases has to be instituted, with all its implications and hazards: septicaemia is the most dangerous of these. Zinc deficiency and acrodermatitis enteropathica may occur during total parenteral nutrition, and zinc deficiency secondarily contributes to the symptoms of diarrhoea. Parenteral administration of zinc is able to overcome these effects.
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PMID:Protracted diarrhoea: secondary monosaccharide malabsorption and zinc deficiency with cutaneous manifestations during total parenteral nutrition. 677 99

Acrodermatitis enteropathica is a rare inherited disorder characterized by zinc deficiency and a triad of dermatitis, diarrhea, and alopecia. It is an autosomal recessive condition thought to be due to the inability to absorb zinc from the gastrointestinal tract. Acquired zinc deficiency due to a variety of etiologies may produce a similar clinical picture. These causes include inadequate supply, malabsorption, and low zinc stores. In addition to zinc, deficiencies of other nutrients such as branched chain amino acids have induced an acrodermatitis enteropathica-like eruption. We describe a case of a 26-month-old boy with a rare inborn error of metabolism known as nonketotic hyperglycinemia who developed an acrodermatitis enteropathica-like eruption. In addition to zinc deficiency, the patient was deficient in branched chain amino acids due to a low protein diet instituted to reduce his elevated glycine levels. The rash did not respond to zinc replacement alone, and therefore is most likely a combination of amino acid and zinc deficiency. Acrodermatitis enteropathica-like eruptions have been described in other conditions that cause decreased serum amino acids, such as maple syrup urine disease and organic acidurias. This is the first case describing an association between acrodermatitis enteropathica and nonketotic hyperglycinemia.
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PMID:Acrodermatitis enteropathica-like eruption in an infant with nonketotic hyperglycinemia. 1105 37

Malabsorption is frequently accompanied by skin symptoms, which are the most likely first manifestation of the disease. Skin lesions are mainly due to the deficiency of zinc, different vitamins, minerals, essential aminoacids, and other nutrients. The present paper demonstrates 3 patients with different types of skin symptoms primarily related to zinc deficiency, which occur in gastrointestinal diseases and alcohol abuse (acrodermatitis enteropathica, eczema craquele, hyperpigmentation).
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PMID:[Cutaneous symptoms of zinc deficiency in adults]. 1518 36

Zinc is an essential trace element for the human organism. It acts like cofactor for the metalloenzymes involved in many cellular processes. Its anti-inflammatory activity, which is the basis of therapeutic use, other than acrodermatitis enteropathica, is not well known: production of cytokines, antioxidant activity. Its toxicity is very low, but marked at high doses during chronic administration by the risk of hypocupremia. It is not teratogenic and can be given during pregnancy. Its absorption, through the duodenum, is inhibited by excessive phytate intake. Maximum concentration is reached after 2 to 3 hours. It is widely distributed in the organism, mainly in muscles and bone. Excretion is predominantly digestive. Its spectacular effect in acrodermatitis enteropathica, through compensation of genetically determined malabsorption was discovered in 1973. Its usefulness in acne is based on the anti-inflammatory action and was first described with zinc sulfate, then with better tolerated gluconate. Many controlled studies have shown an efficacy on inflammatory lesions. Doses varied from 30 to 150 mg of elemental zinc and studies against cyclines have shown that minocycline has a superior effect; but zinc might be an alternative treatment when cyclines are contraindicated. To date we don't have convincing data for its use in other indications (leishmaniosis, warts, cutaneous ulcers). Tolerance at usual doses (200 mg of zinc gluconate or 30 mg of elemental zinc) is good. Major side effects are abdominal with nausea, vomiting, but are fleeting and dose dependent.
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PMID:[Zinc salts in dermatology]. 1523 33

Multiple cases with various types of pediatric malabsorption syndromes were evaluated. The clinical manifestations, laboratory findings, pathophysiology, and histopathological descriptions of each patient were analyzed in an effort to clear the pathogenesis of the malabsorption syndromes and the treatments were undertaken. The cases studied, included one patient with cystic fibrosis, two with lactose intolerance with lactosuria (Durand type), one with primary intestinal lymphangiectasia, two with familial hypobetalipoproteinemia, one with Hartnup disease, one with congenital chroride diarrhea, one with acrodermatitis enteropathica, one with intestinal nodular lymphoid hyperplasia (NLH), five with intractable diarrhea of early infancy and four with glycogenosis type Ia. Each case description and outcome is described below: 1. A 15-year-old Japanese boy with cystic fibrosis presented with severe symptoms, including pancreatic insufficiency, bronchiectasis, pneumothorax and hemoptysis. His prognosis was poor. Analysis of the CFTR genes of this patient revealed a homozygous large deletion from intron 16 to 17b. 2. In the sibling case of Durand type lactose intolerance, the subjects'disaccaridase activity of the small bowel, including lactase, were within normal limits. The results of per oral and per intraduodenal lactose tolerance tests confirmed lactosuria in both. These observations suggested, not only an abnormal gastric condition, but also duodenal and intestinal mucosal abnormal permeability of lactose. 3. In the case of primary intestinal lymphangiectasia, the subject had a lymphedematous right arm and hand, a grossly coarsened mucosal pattern of the upper gastrointestinal tract (identified via radiologic examination) and the presence of lymphangiectasia (confirmed via duodenal mucosal biopsy). The major laboratory findings were hypoalbuminemia, decreased immunoglobulin levels and lymphopenia resulting from loss of lymph fluid and protein into the gastro-intestinal tract. 4. In two cases of heterozygous familial hypobetalipoproteinemia, serum total cholesterol and betalipoprotein levels were very low. The subjects presented with symptoms and signs of acanthocytosis and fat malabsorption. Further, one subject had neurological abnormalities such as mental retardation and severe convulsions. Treatment with MCT formula diet corrected the lipid malabsorption. 5. A 5-year-old girl presented with pellagra-like rashes, mental retardation and cerebellar ataxia. An oral tryptophan (Trp) and dipeptide (Trp-Phe) loading test were conducted and the renal clearance of amino acids was also evaluated in this patient and in controls. Following the oral Trp loading test, plasma levels of Trp indicated a lower peak in the case, reaching a maximum at 60 minutes. On the other hand, the oral dipeptide (Trp-Phe) loading test in the Hartnup patient showed the peak Trp plasma level was the same as the control subjects. The renal clearance of neutral amino acids in this case increased to levels 5 to 35 times normal. 6. In the case of congenital chloride diarrhea, the subject had secondary lactose intolerance, dehydration, hyponatremia, hypokalemia, hypochloremia, hyperreninemia and metabolic alkalosis. The chloride content of her fecal fluid was very high. The concentrations were 89-103 mEq/l. In contrast, her urine was chloride-free. The subject's growth and development improved after treatment with lactose free formura and oral replacement of the fecal loses of water, NaCl and KCl. Unfortunately, the patient died of a small bowel intussusception. The kidney histopathological finding was juxtaglomerular hyperplasia by a necropsy. 7. In the case of acrodermatitis enteropathica, the subject had characteristic skin lesions, low serum zinc levels and ALPase activity. An oral ZnSO4 loading test and intestinal mucosal histology by a peroral biopsy were conducted. The serum zinc peak level was 2 hours after the oral ZnSO4 loading test. Infant formula alone could not maintain normal serum zinc ranges. Light microscopic studies of the intestinal villous architecture showed a normal pattern. However, ultrastructual examination of several epithelial cells revealed numerous intracellular vesicles. After zinc therapy, these changes were decreased. The lesions were postulated as the secondary result of zinc deficiency. 8. A 12-year-old girl presented with hypogammaglobulinemia, recurrent infections, chronic diarrhea and intestinal NLH. A barium meal and follow-through examination showed multiple nodules throughout the stomach and intestine. The nodules, all uniform in size, were 2 mm diameter. The barium enema did not show NLH in the colon. Mucosal biopsy of the stomach and jejunum revealed the typical histology of NLH in the lamina propria. Also, achlorhydria was present in this patient and her serum gastrin levels were very high; 315-775 pg/ml. 9. In 4 cases of intractable diarrhea in early infancy (by Avery G B), a jejunal biopsy showed shortening villi and nonspecific enterocolitis. Some patients were found with only low lactase or low lactase and sucrase levels. An electron microscope analysis of the small bowel in 2 cases showed alterations: increased pinocytosis in microvillus membranes and lysosomes by endocytosis of undigested macromolecular substances. I postulated that the stated evidence was causative of this clinical profile. 10. I frequently observed diarrhea as a clinical manifestation in glycogenosis type Ia and lipid malabsorption in one case. The light and electron photomicrographs showed intestinal absorption cells with the glycogen deposits in the inferior devision of nuclei.
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PMID:[Clinical studies of pediatric malabsorption syndromes]. 1722 86

A 4-month-old boy was admitted for having diffuse eruption in the perianal region, legs, trunk hands, and face with failure to thrive, edema, hypoalbuminemia, and anemia. The patient was thought to have acrodermatitis enteropathica-like eruption due to malabsorption. The eruption completely resolved with enzyme supplement and proper nutrition and skin care.
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PMID:A 4-month-old boy with acrodermatitis enteropathica-like symptoms. 1878 40

Acrodermatitis enteropathica is classified as a congenital autosomal recessive type and an acquired transient type. This disease manifests as acral and periorificial dermatitis, alopecia, intractable diarrhea, and failure to thrive. Whereas the autosomal hereditary type is caused by malabsorption of zinc in the intestine, the acquired type is caused by low nutritional support or decreased peripheral release of zinc from blood. We experienced a case of a 5-month old, breast feeding, full-term female presenting with only acral bullous dermatitis without diarrhea, periorificial dermatitis and an abnormal serum zinc level.
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PMID:A case of acrodermatitis enteropathica localized on the hands and feet with a normal serum zinc level. 2202 83

Acrodermatitis enteropathica (AE) is an uncommon autosomal recessive genetic disorder of zinc malabsorption. The acquired form may be associated with inadequate intake, impaired absorption, and increased excretion of zinc. Those afflicted present with diarrhea, stomatitis, psychiatric symptoms, non-scarring alopecia, and nail dystrophy accompanied by erythematous which appears as scaly patches with erosion vesicles and pustules mostly affecting the extremities, perineal, and periorificial areas. Due to the variable findings of most case reports, the clinical and histopathological features of AE are often regarded as non-specific. We report an unusual case of bullous AE secondary to total parenteral nutrition for the treatment of acute pancreatitis occurring in a six-year-old male with acute lymphocytic leukemia who underwent chemotherapy. He presented with periorificial, reddish, eroded bullae with multiple vesicles and blisters on his fingers, toes, and buttock, showing necrotic keratinocytes with multiple intraepidermal vesicles and perivascular infiltration with predominant lymphocytes and few neutrophils within the dermis. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first case report of bullous AE in the Korean dermatologic literature.
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PMID:Development of Bullous Acrodermatitis Enteropathica during the Course of Chemotherapy for Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia. 2234 69


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