Zinc-Responsive Acral Hyperkeratosis: A Report of a Rare Entity

Abstract

Chronic acral hyperkeratotic dermatosis includes several conditions such as lichen simplex chronicus (LSC), hypertrophic lichen planus (HLP), psoriasis vulgaris (Ps), acral acanthosis nigricans, acquired zinc deficiency, and necrolytic acral erythema (NAE). LSC, Ps, and HLP respond to conventional treatments such as topical corticosteroids, immuno-modulators such as tacrolimus, and oral methotrexate. Zinc-responsive acral hyperkeratosis is a novel entity that resembles the above mentioned diagnoses clinically but fails to respond to the above treatment options. NAE is a rare condition, commonly associated with hepatitis C virus infection and manifest similar clinical features of zinc-responsive acral hyperkeratosis, but differs histopathologically. Both conditions show a good response to oral zinc supplementation. As there is a paucity of literature on zinc-responsive acral hyperkeratosis, we are highlighting the case.

Introduction

Zinc-responsive acral hyperkeratosis presents typically with persistent, well-defined hyperpigmented plaques distributed symmetrically over acral regions of the body. Necrolytic acral erythema (NAE) is the closest mimicker of this entity and can be differentiated on the basis of histopathology. Herein, we report a case of zinc-responsive acral hyperkeratosis which responded well to zinc therapy.

Case Report

A 57-year-old male presented to us with dark-colored, mildly itchy, dry, scaly raised lesion over both hands for 4 months. He was treated with potent topical steroids, emollients, tacrolimus, and oral methotrexate in the past without any relief. Cutaneous examination revealed bilaterally symmetrical well-demarcated hyperpigmented plaques over the dorsum of hands [Figure 1]. General and systemic examination was normal. Palms and soles, oral mucosa, hair, and nail examination revealed no abnormality, and Auspitz sign was negative. We kept the differential diagnosis of lichen simplex chronicus (LSC), psoriasis vulgaris (Ps), acral acanthosis nigricans (AN), acquired zinc deficiency, NAE, and zinc-responsive acral hyperkeratosis. All routine laboratory investigations such as lipid profile, kidney function test, and blood sugars were unremarkable except for liver function test which shows low serum albumin of 2.9 g/dl [normal range = 3.4–5.4 g/dl]. His alkaline phosphatase level was within normal range. HIV, hepatitis B, and C serology were negative. Serum zinc levels could not be performed due to financial constraints. Histopathology showed hyperkeratosis, focal parakeratosis, and acanthosis with a prominent granular layer. Dermis showed a sparse perivascular mononuclear infiltrate of lymphocytes [Figure 2]. Since histopathological findings were not consistent with the clinical diagnosis of AN, Ps, LSC, and NAE, a therapeutic trial of oral zinc was given with 200 mg of zinc sulfate three times daily for 3 weeks along with 10% urea containing emollient. At 3 weeks, the follow-up patient noticed a good therapeutic response to oral zinc with flattening of plaques [Figure 3a and b]. Thus, based on history, skin biopsy, and excellent response to oral zinc, a final diagnosis of zinc-responsive acral hyperkeratosis was made. The patient was asked to continue oral zinc 200 mg two times a day for the next 3 weeks. After 6 weeks of treatment, we observed 60–70% improvement in the lesion [Figure 4a and b]. He is still under treatment.

Figure 1.

Well-demarcated bilaterally symmetrical hyperkeratotic plaques over dorsum of hands

Figure 2.

(a) Scanner view of skin biopsy specimen showing hyperkeratosis (red arrow), normal granular layer (green), and focal parakeratosis (yellow) (H and E 10×); (b) magnified view showing hypergranulosis with acanthosis (blue) with intact basal layer and mild perivascular lymphocytic infiltrate in upper dermis (orange) (H and E 40×)

Figure 3.

(a) Pretreatment and (b) post-treatment after 3 weeks. Flattening of hyperkeratotic plaques on dorsum of hands

Figure 4.

(a) Pretreatment and (b) post-treatment after 6 weeks

Discussion

We report a rare entity with a unique clinical presentation of symmetric acral hyperkeratotic plaques of long duration which is responsive to oral zinc supplementation. This entity is found to be refractory to different modalities of treatment. In 2015, Ghosh et al.[1] reported a series of 10 patients with psoriasiform lesions over acral regions of the body (8 patients had lesions over dorsum of hands only and 2 patients with lesions over both dorsum of hands and feet) who were nonreactive to hepatitis C and on histopathology showed hyperkeratosis, acanthosis, prominent granular layer, and dermal infiltrate and who were resistant to conventional treatment but showed significant improvement on oral zinc therapy which they labeled as zinc-responsive acral hyperkeratotic dermatosis. In Ghosh et al.'s study, 8 out of 10 patients showed normal serum zinc levels and only 5 patients had associated systemic abnormalities. Our patient had involvement of dorsum of hands only. NAE is clinically identical to zinc-responsive acral hyperkeratosis and also responds to zinc therapy. It was first described by el Darouti and Abu el Ela in 1996, in Egypt, which belongs to the group of other necrolytic erythema which includes necrolytic migratory erythema, acrodermatitis enteropathica, pellagra and biotin, and essential fatty acid deficiencies.[2,3] The exact etiopathogenesis of NAE is unknown; however, hepatocellular dysfunction, hyperglucagonemia, hypoaminoacidemia, hypoalbuminemia, zinc deficiency, and diabetes are postulated mechanisms for the pathogenesis. Normally albumin sequesters the fatty acids released from tissue membranes and makes them inaccessible to further degradation to metabolic products such as prostaglandins. Thus, hypoalbuminemia results in high levels of prostaglandins which further induces the inflammatory process in NAE. Also, it is responsible for zinc deficiency as albumin is the main carrier of zinc.[3] Our patient lacks any such systemic abnormality; however, his serum albumin level was slightly on lower side. NAE is characterized clinically by well-circumscribed dusky to violaceous symmetrical plaques with or without scales with a rim of erythema distributed exclusively over acral areas such as the dorsal surface of hands and feet.[1] Severe cases may present as vesiculation and pustules. Nails, hairs, and mucous membranes are usually spared. Most of the time it is asymptomatic but some patients may complain of burning sensation. Though our patient had clinical resemblance with NAE but lacks vesiculation and pustules. Abdallah et al.,[4] in 2005, reported NAE as a cutaneous marker of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. He studied a total of 30 patients with NAE and all were positive for hepatitis C virus serology. However, there are cases of seronegative NAE reported in the recent past.[5,6,7,8] This suggests that NAE could be an isolated phenomenon as a result of zinc metabolism dysregulation rather than a result of HCV infection itself. Histopathology of NAE shows psoriasiform hyperplasia, hyperkeratosis, parakeratosis, papillomatosis, focal hypergranulosis, pigment incontinence, inflammatory cells in the papillary dermis, and necrotic keratinocytes.[9] Thus, the presence of necrotic keratinocyte and vacuolar degeneration in basal cells helps in the diagnosis of NAE. Our patient was seronegative for HCV and lacks necrotic keratinocytes and vacuolar degeneration on histopathology, thus ruling out seronegative NAE. Though we could not know about serum zinc level of our patient, it can be normal, high, or low as reported by the study of Ghosh et al.[1] Another differential that responds to oral zinc is acquired zinc deficiency which is usually associated with Gastroi-Intestinal disorders (malabsorptive syndromes, pancreatic disease, cirrhosis, blind-loop syndrome), diet (high phytate intake, alcoholism, total parenteral nutrition, severely restrictive diets, anorexia, bulimia), trauma (burns, postsurgery), malignancy, renal disorders (tubular disease, nephrotic syndrome, dialysis), drug (anti-metabolites, chelators), diabetes mellitus, hemolytic anemia, and pregnancy/lactation.[10] It typically involves acral, periorificial, and anogenital area as erythematous, well-demarcated eczematous patches. Nail involvement reveals paronychia with transverse ridging. Hairs may be dry, brittle, lustreless with occaisional banding.[10] Our patient had exceptional involvement of hands with normal face and ano-genital area, thus ruling out acquired zinc deficiency. Though the exact role of zinc in the management of zinc-responsive acral hyperkeratosis is unknown, the anti-inflammatory and anti-proliferative properties of zinc could be the possible mechanism as zinc is an important micronutrient required for normal functions of skin.[11] Thus, while diagnosing this condition, we should rule out its mimickers such as Ps, LSC, eczemas, acral AN, hypertrophic lichen planus, acquired zinc deficiency, and NAE [Table 1].[9,10,12,13,14,15,16]

Table 1.

Differential diagnosis of chronic acral hyperkeratotic dermatosis

Diagnosis	Clinical features	Histopathology
Psoriasis [12]	Pruritic well-defined, symmetrical erythematous plaques with silvery-white scaling over extensor surface of the body. Auspitz sign positive. Involvement of scalp, joint, and nails often present	Hyperkeratosis, parakeratosis, absent granular layer, acantosis with regular elongation of the rete ridges, suprapapillary thinning of epidermis, papillary dermal edema with dilated capillaries surrounded by lymphocytic infiltrate. Munro microabscesses in the stratum corneum, spongiform pustules of Kogoj in the spinous layer
Hypertrophic lichen planus[13]	Pruritic violacious, shiny verrucous plaques usually present over shins. Wickham striae, mucos membrane, and nail involvement seen often present	Compact orthokeratosis, wedge-shaped hypergranulosis, irregular acanthosis, vacuolar degeneration of basal layer, band-like dermal lymphocytic infiltrate
Lichen simplex chronicus[14]	Severely pruritic, symmetrical hyperpigmented, lichenified plaques most commonly over shins	Hyperkeratosis interspersed with parakeratosis, acanthosis with irregular elongation of the rete ridges, wedge-shaped hypergranulosis, slight spongiosis, and sparse perivascular lymphocytic infiltrate in dermis
Chronic eczema[15]	Ill-defined pruritic scaly plaques mostly over acral regions. Unilateral and sometimes lichenified	Hyperkeratosis, parakeratosis, wedge-shaped hypergranulosis, focal spongiosis, acanthosis. Sparse inflammatory infiltrate in dermis
Acral acanthosis nigricans[16]	Hyperpigmented, thickened, velvety plaques over dorsum of hands and feet	Hyperkeratosis, papillomatosis, irregular acanthosis, slight hyperpigmentation of basal layer, upward finger-like projection of dermal papillae, horn pseudocysts can be seen
Necrolytic acral erythema[9]	Well-circumscribed, symmetrical dusky to violaceous plaques with or without scaling with a rim of erythema over acral areas. Sometimes vesiculation or bulla formation can be seen	Hyperkeratosis with psoriasiform hyperplasia, necrotic keratinocyte with vacuolar degeneration, parakeratosis, papillomatosis, focal hypergranulosis, pigment incontinence, inflammatory cells in papillary dermis
Acquired zinc deficiency[10]	Acral, periorificial, and ano-genital erythematous scaly sharply demarcated patches, alopecia, paronychia, and transverse ridging of nails	Necrolysis, confluent parakeratosis, hypogranulosis, psoriasiform hyperplasia, vacuolization, and ballooning degeneration
Zinc-responsive acral hyperkeratosis	Bilaterally symmetrical well demarcated hyperpigmented scaly plaques over dorsum of hands and feet	Hyperkeratosis, focal parakeratosis, acanthosis with normal granular layer, and intact basal cell layer. Sparse perivascular mononuclear infiltrate of lymphocytes in the dermis

Conclusion

Practicing dermatologists should be aware of this new entity as it is chronic, refractory, and resistant to conventional treatments but responds to simple modality like zinc supplementation, thus increasing patient compliance. We understand that further studies are required with a large number of cases as it is an underreported entity.

Declaration of patient consent

The authors certify that they have obtained all appropriate patient consent forms. In the form the patient(s) has/have given his/her/their consent for his/her/their images and other clinical information to be reported in the journal. The patients understand that their names and initials will not be published and due efforts will be made to conceal their identity, but anonymity cannot be guaranteed.

Financial support and sponsorship

Nil.

Conflicts of interest

There are no conflicts of interest.