Carotid Intima-Media Thickness; Could Be an Early Predictor of Atherosclerosis in Skin Tags Patients

Abstract

Background: Skin tags (STs) are commonbenign skin tumors. An association between STs and atherogenic risk factors including impairment of lipid has been proposed. Carotid intima media thickness(CIMT) is a surrogate marker for the existenceof atherosclerosis and its progression.

Objectives:To assess the possible risk of atherosclerosis in patients having STs, through evaluation of CIMT in STs patients compared to controls, in addition to study the relationship of the evaluated CIMT with clinical aspects of STs in the studied cases.

Methods:This case control study was performed on 80 non obese-subjects with STsand 60 matched healthy controls. All participants were subjected to a full history, clinical examination and lipid profile evaluation [serum cholesterol (CH), high density lipoprotein(HDL), low density lipoprotein(LDL), and triglyceride (TG)]. CIMT was measured by utilizing B mode carotid ultrasonography.

Results: There was a significant higher CH, TG, LDL and CIMTmean values in STs patients than controls (p= <0.001, p=0.02, p=<0.001 and p=0.007 respectively). In STs patients, CIMT was positively correlated with numbers of STs as well as serum levels ofCH, TG and LDL.

Conclusions: STs patients are more prone to develop dyslipidemia and atherogenic changes that could be detected early by CIMT assessment .CIMT could be an early predictor of atherosclerosis even in non-obese STs patients. STs patients especially those with high number of STs lesions need close supervision and regular follow up using CIMT to predict any atherogenic changes and to get benefit from the prevention program