Acanthosis nigricans: a clinical marker of insulin resistance

Authors

  • Sanjiv V. Choudhary Department of Dermatology, Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College, Sawangi, Wardha, Maharashtra, India
  • Vikrant Saoji Department of Dermatology, Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College, Sawangi, Wardha, Maharashtra, India
  • Adarshlata Singh Department of Dermatology, Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College, Sawangi, Wardha, Maharashtra, India
  • Shivani Mane Department of Dermatology, Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College, Sawangi, Wardha, Maharashtra, India

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.18203/issn.2455-4529.IntJResDermatol20171497

Keywords:

Acanthosis nigricans, Insulin resistance

Abstract

Background: Very little information is available regarding the association of acanthosis nigricans with insulin resistance from rural areas of India. Therefore this study was carried out with the aim and objectives to study the association between acanthosis nigricans and insulin resistance and to evaluate correlation of acanthosis nigricans severity, neck severity and neck texture severity with fasting blood sugar & serum insulin especially in this rural part of central India.

Methods: In this cross sectional study with comparative group, total 162 age and sex matched subjects were divided into two groups of cases (81) with acanthosis nigricans and comparative subjects (81) without acanthosis nigricans. The severity acanthosis nigricans was assessed using the Burke’s quantitative scale. Fasting blood sugar and fasting insulin levels were estimated to know the Homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) values. Data was analyzed by using appropriate statistical tests.

Results: The age range was 20 to 55 years with the mean of 32.82 ± 10.19 years for cases and 33.67 ± 8.09 for comparative subjects. Univariate analysis which showed significant association of acanthosis nigricans with fasting insulin and HOMA-IR with significant odds ratios and p value (p =0.0001) respectively. Fasting blood sugar showed greater risk of association in cases but it was statistically insignificant with p-value of (p =0.32). Spearman rank coefficient correlation showed weak correlation of HOMA-IR with acanthosis nigricans severity, neck severity and neck texture severity, but showed positive correlation of fasting insulin with acanthosis nigricans severity, neck severity and neck texture severity, with statistically significant P-value (p <0.05).

Conclusions: Acanthosis nigricans was strongly associated with insulin resistance with significant odds ratio and statistical significant p value (P < 0.05). Acanthosis nigricans severity, neck severity and neck texture severity showed positive correlation with fasting serum insulin with statistically significant p value (P <0.05). 

Author Biographies

Sanjiv V. Choudhary, Department of Dermatology, Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College, Sawangi, Wardha, Maharashtra, India

Professor , Department of Dermatology Venereology and Leprosy

Vikrant Saoji, Department of Dermatology, Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College, Sawangi, Wardha, Maharashtra, India

Professor , Department of Dermatology, Venereology and Leprosy

Adarshlata Singh, Department of Dermatology, Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College, Sawangi, Wardha, Maharashtra, India

Professor  and Head of the Dermatology, Department of Dermatology, Venereology and Leprosy

Shivani Mane, Department of Dermatology, Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College, Sawangi, Wardha, Maharashtra, India

JR3, Department of Dermatology, Venereology and Leprosy

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Published

2017-05-22

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Original Research Articles