Copper Deficient Anemia in Severe Protein-Energy Malnutrition due to Child Abuse

아동학대로 인해 발생한 중증 단백-에너지 영양실조 환아에서 동반된 구리결핍증 빈혈 1예

An unconscious 5-year-old girl was admitted to the Intensive Care Unit. She was neglected by her parents; she suffered from inadequate nutritional, medical and emotional care. The girl appeared to be emotionally detached, dehydrated and malnourished; she had edematous extremities, moderately bruised skin and brittle coarse hair. Laboratory testing showed electrolyte imbalance, anemia, pneumonia, copper deficiency, and liver dysfunction in addition to severe protein-energy malnutrition (PEM). Medical intervention was followed by improvement of most of the symptoms. During the rehabilitation phase, the patient showed a voracious appetite and gained weight too fast. The liver became enlarged and the patient developed a mild fever due to excessive nutrition. The microcytic anemia with severe PEM did not responded to iron supplementation possibly due to the copper deficiency. Addition of copper without zinc and iron helped to improve the anemia. The patient was discharged to a childcare center where she received cognitive and psychosocial therapy.

저자들은 가족 내에서 아동학대로 인해 발생한 치명적인 중증 영양실조를 보인 5세 여아에 동반된 빈혈과 구리 결핍증을 WHO 치료 지침과 구리 보충요법으로 호전시킨 1예를 치험하였기에 보고하는 바이다.