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Skin Zinc Concentrations in Patients with Varicose Ulcers
Author(s) -
Ackerman Zvi,
Loewenthal Elia,
Seidenbaum Moshe,
Rubinow Alan,
Gorodetsky Raphael
Publication year - 1990
Publication title -
international journal of dermatology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.677
H-Index - 93
eISSN - 1365-4632
pISSN - 0011-9059
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-4362.1990.tb04763.x
Subject(s) - medicine , dermatology , varicose veins , zinc , varicose ulcer , surgery , metallurgy , materials science
The concentration of zinc in the skin has been determined noninvasively in patients with varicose vein ulcers. The examinations were performed with the use of diagnostic x‐ray spectrometry, a method based on x‐ray fluorescence for in vivo noninvasive evaluation of trace elements. Four skin foci were examined: at the periphery of the ulcer and control areas in a nonulcerated area in the diseased leg, in the noninvolved leg, and in the proximal inner surface of the arm. Zinc levels around the ulcer (mean ± SD, 9·8 ± 4·0 μg of zinc in 1 g of wet tissue) were higher than those in the nonulcerated skin in the diseased leg (6·9 ± 3·0 μg/g, p>0·05) and those in the noninvolved leg (5·4 ± 2·0 μg/g, p<0·01). The concentration of zinc in the inner proximal surface of the arm (9·8 ± 2·8 μg/g) was significantly higher than those of a control group (5·3 ± 1·9 μg/g, P<0·01). These results suggest a defect of zinc distribution in patients with varicose vein ulcers.