Zinc deficiency dermatitis in parenteral nutrition: an electron-microscopic study.

Two cases of zinc deficiency dermatitis (acute phase) on parenteral nutrition are reported. Subepidermal blisters caused by a decrease in the number of desmosomes and hemidesmosomes located between the discontinuous basal membrane and cell membranes are shown. The collagen fibers presented changes which probably are responsible for the breaking or fragility of the capillaries. These facts went unnoticed in previous studies.