Acanthosis nigricans: A cutaneous marker for metabolic syndrome

Background: Acanthosis Nigricans (AN) is an easily identifiable dermatoses characterized by thickened, hyperpigmented plaques. Metabolic syndrome refers to a clustering of metabolic risk factors including central obesity, glucose intolerance, hyperinsulinemia, low HDL cholesterol, high triglycerides and hypertension. AN is a skin marker associated with this syndrome. Aims and Objectives: This study aimed to determine the relationship between AN and metabolic syndrome by studying its clinico-epidemiological features and also the relation of severity of AN over neck with metabolic syndrome. Methodology: This is a case-control study. One hundred consecutive patients of AN attending dermatology OPD of a tertiary care hospital were included in this study. They were evaluated for AN and severity of AN over neck was assessed. Age and sex matched 100 controls were included in the study. Epidemiological, clinical and anthropometric characteristics (height, weight, waist circumference) were measured of all the cases and controls. Body Mass Index (BMI) was calculated. Fasting Blood Sugar, High Density Lipoprotein and Serum Triglyceride levels were estimated. Result: The average age of the patients was 32.4 years and females (62%) were more than the males (38%). Neck was involved in all the patients. There was statistically significant correlation of increasing severity of AN with each component of Metabolic syndrome. On comparing between cases and controls, each component of metabolic syndrome was raised in cases as compared to the controls. 70% cases had Metabolic syndrome which was statistically significant. Conclusion: There was a high prevalence of AN in subjects with metabolic syndrome. Also there was a positive correlation between severity of AN and Metabolic syndrome