Venous leg ulceration: skin and serum zinc concentrations.

Zinc was measured in serum and in thigh skin in patients with venous leg ulceration and also in controls. Skin zinc concentrations were expressed in terms of area and dry weight. The mean serum zinc concentration was significantly lowered in the ulcer group. The thigh skin zinc concentration was elevated in patients with chronic venous leg ulceration. The difference was more marked if the zinc concentration was calculated per surface area of skin, but did not reach statistical significance.