Acanthosis Nigricans in Adolescents With Polycystic Ovary Syndrome

The study examined the relationship between acanthosis nigricans (AN), a skin condition, and polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) in adolescent females aged 14-19 years. The researchers compared clinical and biochemical variables in adolescents with PCOS, with and without AN. Significant differences were observed in body mass index (BMI), abdominal circumference (AC), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), total testosterone (TT), and free androgen index (FAI) between the two groups. However, the prevalence rate of abnormal glucose tolerance and insulin resistance was not significantly different. The study concluded that AN in adolescent girls with PCOS is a clinical marker of obesity, but not an indicator of underlying insulin resistance or glucose intolerance. Further studies are needed to determine how many of these adolescents develop insulin resistance or diabetes in the future.