Abstract

Lifestyle diseases are emerging epidemic of modern era, starting its pathogenesis as pre-metabolic syndrome at a younger age. Obese paediatric population is at higher risk. Acanthosis nigricans (AN) is a dermatoses which helps in identifying at risk population and aid in early intervention and lifestyle modification. The main aim of this study was to evaluate derangements in serum parameters of metabolic syndrome (serum fasting blood sugar levels and lipid profile) and their correlation with severity (grades) of AN. A total of 100 subjects of age 10-18 years were studied, 50 having obesity (OB) with AN (OB+AN) and 50 having OB without AN (OB-AN), fulfilling the set inclusion and exclusion criteria. BMI (body mass index), serum fasting blood sugar (FBS), serum cholesterol (sChol), serum triglycerides (sTG), serum low density lipoproteins (sLDL) and serum high density lipoproteins (sHDL) were measured in all subjects, along with grading of AN and its correlation with individual parameters. Compared to OB-AN group, OB+AN group had statistically significant higher BMI (p value 0.006), FBS (p = 0.009), sTG (p = 0.03) & lower levels for sHDL (p = 0.02). AN grades correlated positively with BMI, FBS, sTG, sChol, sLDL and negatively with sHDL levels in a statistically significant manner. The derangement in any of these parameters point towards underlying metabolic syndrome in obese subjects. Additionally, grading of AN helps in risk stratification of the obese population clinically by means of visual inspection, only

Description