Research on zinc blood levels and nutritional status in adolescents with autoimmune hepatitis.

Context: Zinc deficiency in children and adolescents impairs their growing, development and immune system.

Objectives: To verify the existence of plasma and leukocyte zinc deficiency in adolescents with autoimmune hepatitis.

Methods: The study comprised 23 patients with autoimmune hepatitis, aged 10-18 years, assisted at the Ambulatory Service of Pediatric Hepatology of the University of Campinas Teaching Hospital, Campinas, SP, Brazil, and adolescents with ages compatible with the patients' ages comprised the control group.