Zinc and Acrodermatitis Enteropathica
Keyword(s):
Mammalian zinc metalloenzymes include alkaline phosphatase. Zinc plays a crucial role in nucleic acid metabolism. RNA and DNA polymerases and thymidine kinase are zinc-dependent enzymes. Zinc deficiency in North America is most clearly seen in the disease acrodermatitis enteropathica. This is an autosomal recessive disease due to a zinc metabolic error—not well defined—which leads to zinc deficiency. Clinical manifestations include a rash around orifices, alopecia, and diarrhea. The laboratory can demonstrate hypozincemia and hypozincuria. Clinical and biochemical remission occurs with oral zinc administration.(R.H.R.)