Biomaterial Database

Acanthosis nigricans and insulin resistance associated with hypothyroidism. 1985

K P Ober

An obese 15-year-old boy with a one-year history of acanthosis nigricans was found to have primary hypothyroidism, with a thyrotropin level in excess of 50 microU/mL. At the same time, he was found to have subclinical insulin resistance. Therapy with thyroxine resulted in weight loss, reversal of hyperinsulinemia, and resolution of the acanthosis nigricans. Hypothyroidism can be added to the list of endocrine diseases associated with acanthosis nigricans. This is unlikely to be a direct effect of the hypothyroid state, but may instead be an indirect action mediated through obesity and subsequent insulin resistance. Insulin resistance and hyperinsulinemia seem to be commonly associated with (and perhaps causative of) the acanthosis nigricans that is seen in many endocrine diseases.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D007037	Hypothyroidism	A syndrome that results from abnormally low secretion of THYROID HORMONES from the THYROID GLAND, leading to a decrease in BASAL METABOLIC RATE. In its most severe form, there is accumulation of MUCOPOLYSACCHARIDES in the SKIN and EDEMA, known as MYXEDEMA. It may be primary or secondary due to other pituitary disease, or hypothalamic dysfunction.	Central Hypothyroidism,Primary Hypothyroidism,Secondary Hypothyroidism,TSH Deficiency,Thyroid-Stimulating Hormone Deficiency,Central Hypothyroidisms,Deficiency, TSH,Deficiency, Thyroid-Stimulating Hormone,Hormone Deficiency, Thyroid-Stimulating,Hypothyroidism, Central,Hypothyroidism, Primary,Hypothyroidism, Secondary,Hypothyroidisms,Primary Hypothyroidisms,Secondary Hypothyroidisms,TSH Deficiencies,Thyroid Stimulating Hormone Deficiency,Thyroid-Stimulating Hormone Deficiencies
D007333	Insulin Resistance	Diminished effectiveness of INSULIN in lowering blood sugar levels: requiring the use of 200 units or more of insulin per day to prevent HYPERGLYCEMIA or KETOSIS.	Insulin Sensitivity,Resistance, Insulin,Sensitivity, Insulin
D008297	Male		Males
D009765	Obesity	A status with BODY WEIGHT that is grossly above the recommended standards, usually due to accumulation of excess FATS in the body. The standards may vary with age, sex, genetic or cultural background. In the BODY MASS INDEX, a BMI greater than 30.0 kg/m2 is considered obese, and a BMI greater than 40.0 kg/m2 is considered morbidly obese (MORBID OBESITY).
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000052	Acanthosis Nigricans	A circumscribed melanosis consisting of a brown-pigmented, velvety verrucosity or fine papillomatosis appearing in the axillae and other body folds. It occurs in association with endocrine disorders, underlying malignancy, administration of certain drugs, or as in inherited disorder.	Acanthosis Nigrican,Nigrican, Acanthosis,Nigricans, Acanthosis
D000293	Adolescent	A person 13 to 18 years of age.	Adolescence,Youth,Adolescents,Adolescents, Female,Adolescents, Male,Teenagers,Teens,Adolescent, Female,Adolescent, Male,Female Adolescent,Female Adolescents,Male Adolescent,Male Adolescents,Teen,Teenager,Youths