Clinical, biochemical and histochemical studies on infants with Acrodermatitis enteropathica chronica.

7 infants diseased with Acrodermatitis enteropathica and 10 normal controls were included in this study. The values of anthranilic acid glucuronide, 6- aminohippuric, anthranilic acid, N-acetyl Kneurine, Kneurine and 30 H Kneurenine, were estimated in mg/24 hours urine, both basal and after tryptophane load. In addition, histopathological and histochemical studies for lactase, succinic dehydrogenase, alkaline phosphatase, acid phosphatase, and alpha-non-specific esterases activities were done for the intestinal mucosal biopsies. All the previous investigations were then repeated after two months treatment with 500 mg/day diiodohydroxyquinoline. The tryptophan metabolites were significantly low in the diseased infants, both basal and after tryptophan load. Moreover, the intestinal enzymes activities were altered. After 2 months treatment with diiodohydroxyquinoline the diseased infants became clinically improved, tryphtophan metabolites became normal, but the activities of the intestinal enzymes were not altered. The biochemical and histochemical findings were discussed, giving the possibility of competitive inhibition of the diiodohydroxyquinolines and the by-product 8 OH Quinololic acid resulting in more degradation of Kneurine and 3 OH Kneurenine to nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide.

Calcium and phosphorus metabolic changes in children with hepatic bilharziasis.

Investigations were done to study the calcium and phosphorus metabolic changes in 35 children with hepatic bilharziasis, of whom 12 were ascitic. Thirteen normal children served as controls. Despite a normal serum level of both calcium and inorganic phosphate in the Bilharzial group, yet both were increased in urine. The mean values obtained from the ascitic fluid were 70% and 90.2% of their serum levels, respectively. The corrected creatinine clearance was significantly diminished, while PEI was significantly increased, and the % TRP significantly decreased, with still a more marked decrease in the ascitic cases. Following a phosphate lead the serum inorganic phosphate level showed a significantly more rapid lowering in both bilharzial groups, as compared to the control group. On the other hand bilharzial cases responded to the intravenous calcium load by a significant retention of calcium in the serum.