Zinc deficiency syndrome in a British youth with cystic fibrosis.

A syndrome of dwarfism and retarded sexual development among Iranian and Egyptian 
teenage boys has been shown to be due to zinc deficiency. 
A British patient with cystic fibrosis and nephrotic syndrome showed growth 
retardation and hypogonadism, associated with low plasma zinc concentrations. The combination 
of cystic fibrosis and nephrotic syndrome appears to be fortuitous, and 
undoubtedly adverse effects on zinc homoeostasis were cumulative. Nevertheless, zinc deficiency 
should be considered when somatic and sexual growth failure occur in 
patients with cystic fibrosis. 