Clinical variants of acrodermatitis enteropathica and its co-relation with genetics

Abstract

Acrodermatitis enteropathica (AE) is a rare disorder of zinc deficiency, which manifests as acral and periorificial dermatitis, alopecia, intractable diarrhea, and failure to thrive. It is classified as primary zinc deficiency, genetically based deficiency, and acquired secondary deficiency. We hereby report a case series of genetically based AE in two nonidentical twins of age two months and two siblings of age 3 and 6 months. After reviewing the literature, we have also emphasized the possible role of genetics in the manifestation of AE.

Keywords

• Acrodermatits enteropathica
• chronic diarrhea
• zinc deficiency
• zinc transporters