Acanthosis nigricans identifies youth at high risk for metabolic abnormalities.

OBJECTIVE

To determine the prevalence of abnormal glucose homeostasis and cardiovascular risk factors in youth with acanthosis nigricans (AN).

STUDY DESIGN

Youth (8-14 years) were recruited from community pediatric offices. Each subject underwent a questionnaire, a targeted physical examination, and an oral glucose tolerance test.

RESULTS

Subjects (n = 236) with AN of the neck (AN+) (60% Hispanic, 30% African American, 54% female, body mass index [BMI] z-score 2.3 kg/m(2)) and 51 youth without AN (65% Hispanic, 22% African American, 37% female, BMI z-score 2.1 kg/m(2)) completed the study. Twenty-nine percent of the AN+ group had abnormal glucose homeostasis, 27% had systolic blood pressure > 95th percentile, and 50% had high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol < or =5th percentile. Once corrected for sex, puberty, maternal education, and BMI z-score, AN remained significantly associated with insulin resistance and abnormal glucose homeostasis. For youth in the AN+ group, homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance, female sex, and positive glutamic acid decarboxylase antibodies remained significantly and independently associated with impaired glucose tolerance.

CONCLUSIONS

Youth in the AN+ group had severe insulin resistance, and more than 1 in 4 already had abnormal glucose homeostasis. AN identified a high-risk population, for whom appropriate interventions have the potential to attenuate or even prevent the development of diabetes and further metabolic abnormalities.