Acanthosis Nigricans as a Clinical Predictor of Insulin Resistance in Obese Children

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Endocrinology
• Metabolic Syndrome Research
• Dermatology

Background:

• Obesity in children is a growing concern, often linked to metabolic complications.
• Insulin resistance is a key metabolic abnormality associated with childhood obesity.
• Acanthosis nigricans (AN) is a skin condition sometimes indicative of underlying metabolic issues.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the effectiveness of acanthosis nigricans (AN) severity as a predictor of insulin resistance in obese pediatric patients.
• To determine the correlation between AN severity and the degree of insulin resistance.

Main Methods:

• A cohort of 74 obese children was studied.
• Clinical measurements included BMI, waist circumference, and blood pressure.
• Fasting glucose, insulin, lipid profiles, liver enzymes, and uric acid were analyzed.
• Homeostatic model assessment for insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) and quantitative insulin sensitivity check index (QUICKI) were calculated.
• Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves evaluated the predictive utility of the AN score.

Main Results:

• Children with AN exhibited significantly higher fasting insulin levels and HOMA-IR scores compared to those without AN.
• An AN score of 3 or more demonstrated 56.8% sensitivity and 83.9% specificity for predicting insulin resistance.
• HOMA-IR scores progressively increased with AN severity: No AN, Mild AN, and Severe AN.

Conclusions:

• The severity of acanthosis nigricans correlates with the degree of insulin resistance in obese children.
• A severe AN score (≥3) identifies pediatric patients at elevated risk for insulin resistance.
• AN severity serves as a valuable clinical index for predicting insulin resistance in this population.