Acrodermatitis enteropathica and an overview of zinc metabolism

  • J Am Acad Dermatol. 2007 Jan;56(1):116-24. doi: 10.1016/j.jaad.2006.08.015.
Emanual Maverakis  1 ,  Maxwell A Fung ,  Peter J Lynch ,  Michelle Draznin ,  Daniel J Michael ,  Beth Ruben ,  Nasim Fazel
Affiliations
  • 1. Department of Dermatology, University of California-Davis, Sacramento, CA 95816, USA.
PMID: 17190629 DOI: 10.1016/j.jaad.2006.08.015
Abstract

Acrodermatitis enteropathica is a rare autosomal recessive disorder of zinc deficiency. The genetic defect has been mapped to 8q24 and the defective gene identified as SLC39A4, which encodes the zinc transporter Zip4. The diagnosis is made by way of clinical presentation together with histopathology and laboratory tests. Here we provide an overview of zinc metabolism and a description of inherited and acquired zinc deficiency.