Acanthosis nigricans in obese Chinese children

作者：Ng H Y^*; Young Jack H M; Huen K F; Chan Louis T W

来源：Hong Kong Medical Journal, 2014, 20(4): 290-296.

DOI：10.12809/hkmj134071

Objectives: To investigate the demographic characteristics and insulin resistance in local overweight/obese Chinese children with and without acanthosis nigricans, and the associations of acanthosis nigricans with insulin resistance and other cardiometabolic co-morbidities.
Design: Case series with cross-sectional analyses.
Setting: A regional hospital in Hong Kong.
Patients: Chinese children assessed between January 2006 and December 2010 at Tseung Kwan O Hospital for being overweight or obese.
Main outcome measures: The demographics, anthropometric data, acanthosis nigricans status, and biochemical results were analysed.
Results: A total of 543 overweight/obese children were studied with 64% being boys and 29% had insulin resistance. Adolescents aged 12 to 18 years, compared with children aged 5 to 11 years, were more likely to have acanthosis nigricans (63% vs 47%; P<0.001) and insulin resistance (37% vs 25%; P=0.005). Compared with overweight children, those who were obese were more likely to have the two conditions: acanthosis nigricans (59% vs 44%; P=0.005) and insulin resistance (35% vs 19%; P=0.001). Compared with those without acanthosis nigricans, those with the condition had significantly higher mean values for systolic blood pressures (P<0.001), 2-hour post-oral glucose tolerance test glucose level (P=0.021), fasting insulin level (P<0.001), homeostasis model of assessmentinsulin resistance (P<0.001), fasting triglyceride level (P<0.001), and alanine aminotransferase level (P=0.002), but a lower high-density lipoprotein cholesterol level (P<0.001). Those with acanthosis nigricans were also more likely to have insulin resistance (P<0.001), hypertension (P=0.021), fatty liver (P=0.001), and abnormal glucose homeostasis (P=0.003).
Conclusion: Obese Chinese children and adolescents with acanthosis nigricans had a higher chance of having insulin resistance and cardiometabolic comorbidities. Acanthosis nigricans is an important clinical feature warranting early attention and evaluation to facilitate timely interventions and monitoring.

• 出版日期2014-8