Skin tags, leptin, metabolic syndrome and change of the life style

• Published in: Indian journal of dermatology, venereology, and leprology Vol. 77; no. 5
• Main Authors: Safoury, Omar S. El, Hay, Rania M. Abdel, Fawzy, Marwa M, Kadry, Dina, Amin, Iman M, Zeid, Ola M. Abu, Rashed, Laila A
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Medknow Publications on behalf of The Indian Association of Dermatologists, Venereologists and Leprologists (IADVL) 08-08-2012
• Subjects: Acrochordons, leptin, metabolic syndrome, skin tags
• ISSN: 0378-6323

Background: Skin tags (STs), are papillomas commonly found in the neck
and in the axillae of middle-aged and elderly people. Metabolic
syndrome (MS) is a complex of interrelated risk factors for
cardiovascular disease and diabetes. Epidemiologic studies of different
ethnic populations have indicated that hyperleptinaemia and leptin
resistance are strongly associated with MS. Aim: To study the possible
relation of skin tags and leptin levels to MS guided by the
International Diabetes Federation (IDF) diagnostic criteria. Methods:
This study included 80 participants, 40 ST patients and 40 apparently
healthy controls. Age, sex, waist circumference (WC), body mass index
(BMI), smoking status, fasting glucose level, insulin level and insulin
resistance were estimated as well as cholesterol, triglycerides, HDL,
criteria of MS, and leptin levels. Results: The univariate analysis
showed that WC, BMI, fasting glucose, insulin levels, insulin
resistance, cholesterol, triglycerides, HDL, and leptin levels were
significantly higher in ST patients compared to controls (P <
0.001). The multivariate analysis between MS components and ST showed
that only high triglyceride levels (OR 1.205/95% CI 1.044-1.391/P
= 0.011) and low HDL levels (OR 0.554/95% CI 0.384-0.800/P =
0.002) were significantly associated with ST. Multivariate linear
regression analysis of the predictors of high plasma leptin levels,
showed that high triglyceride levels (OR 0.287/95% CI
0.410-3.56/P = 0.014), and low HDL levels (OR -0.404/95% CI -8.7
to -2.08/P = 0.002) were significant predictors. Conclusion: The
results of this study suggested that the presence of both ST and
hyperleptinaemia in patients with STs may be associated with high
levels of triglycerides and low levels of HDL and this could suggest
that changing the life style of patients with ST may have a beneficial
role.