Ann Pediatr Endocrinol Metab.  2019 Jun;24(2):99-103. 10.6065/apem.2019.24.2.99.

Acanthosis nigricans as a clinical marker of insulin resistance among overweight adolescents

• Videira-Silva A
• Albuquerque C
• Fonseca H

• KMID: 2452085
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.6065/apem.2019.24.2.99

Abstract

PURPOSE
Acanthosis nigricans (AN) is a hyperpigmented dermatosis associated with obesity and insulin resistance (IR). There is no consensus whether AN extension scoring offers added value to the clinical estimation of IR. In this study we aimed to assess and score AN using both a short and an extended version of the scale proposed by Burke et al. and analyze the relationships of both versions with hyperinsulinemia and IR.
METHODS
We analyzed data from 139 overweight adolescents (body mass index ≥85th percentile) aged 12-18 with (n=67) or without (n=72) AN who were followed at a pediatric obesity clinic.
RESULTS
Adolescents with AN had higher levels of insulin (d=0.56, P=0.003) and HOMA-IR (d=0.55, P=0.003) compared to those without. Neither the short nor the extended versions of AN scores explained either hyperinsulinemia (β=1.10, P=0.316; β=1.15, P=0.251) or IR (β=1.07, P=0.422; β=1.10, P=0.374). The presence of AN alone predicted hyperinsulinemia and the presence of IR in 7.3% (β=2.68, P=0.008) and 7.1% (β=2.59, P=0.009) of adolescents, respectively.
CONCLUSIONS
Screening for AN at the neck and axilla is a noninvasive and cost-effective way to identify asymptomatic overweight adolescents with or at risk of developing IR.

Keyword

Adolescents; Acanthosis nigricans; Overweight; Hyperinsulinemia; Insulin resistance

MeSH Terms

Acanthosis Nigricans*
Adolescent*
Axilla
Biomarkers*
Consensus
Humans
Hyperinsulinism
Insulin Resistance*
Insulin*
Mass Screening
Neck
Obesity
Overweight*
Pediatric Obesity
Skin Diseases
Biomarkers
Insulin

Figure

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  Fig. 1. Recruitment design. AN, acanthosis nigricans.

Reference

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