Local infiltration of BAL after a toxic dose of gold

Acrodermatitis enteropathica, a rare hereditary disorder appearing in early infancy, is characterized by acral and periorificial vesiculobullous, pustular and exzematoid skin lesions, chronic diarrhea and partial or complete alopecia. The mode of ineritance is belived to be autosomal recessive. Until 1973 this disorder was treated with diiodohydroxyquin, but since the efficacy of zinc therapy was demonstrated, zinc sulphate has been adopted as the treatment of choice. The first case treated successfully with oral zinc sulphate in Israel is described. An 8-yr old girl suffering from skin disease and intermittent diarrhea which began early in infancy was diagnosed as having acrodermatitis enteropathica. The diagnosis was supported by the finding of hypozincemia. Administration of zinc sulphate, 150 mg daily, resulted in relief of symptoms. A maintenance dose of 100 mg zinc sulphate was adequate to ensure normal serum zinc and serum alkaline phosphatase and to keep the child asymptomatic. The parents had neither low serum zinc nor low alkaline phosphatase levels.