Serum Fetuin-A: A Novel Potential Link Between Post-adolescent Acne and Insulin Resistance

Amany Ibrahim Mustafa; Ahmed Said Kadah; Eman Mohamed Fawzy; Ghada Mohamed Mahmoud

Serum Fetuin-A: A Novel Potential Link Between Post-adolescent Acne and Insulin Resistance

J Clin Aesthet Dermatol. 2022 Dec;15(12):33-37.

Authors

Amany Ibrahim Mustafa¹, Ahmed Said Kadah², Eman Mohamed Fawzy³, Ghada Mohamed Mahmoud⁴

Affiliations

¹ Dr. Mustafa is with the Department of Dermatology, Venereology, and Andrology and Faculty of Medicine at Benha University in Benha, Egypt.
² Dr. Kadah is with the Department of Dermatology, Venereology, and Andrology, and Faculty of Medicine at Al-Azhar University in Cairo, Egypt.
³ Dr. Fawzy is with the Department of Laboratory Medicine at Mansoura Fever Hospital, in Mansoura, Egypt.
⁴ Dr. Mahmoud is with the Department of Clinical and Chemical Pathology, Faculty of Medicine at Benha University in Benha, Egypt.

PMID: 36569528
PMCID: PMC9762630

Abstract

Background: Post-adolescent acne is acne in patients aged older than 25 years. It is more common in women, suggesting an underlying hormonal imbalance. It has been postulated that insulin resistance (IR) may play a role in pathogenesis.

Objective: To explore the relationship between fetuin-A, IR, and post-adolescent acne.

Methods: Serum fetuin-A levels were assessed using an ELISA technique in 50 female patients with post-adolescent acne and 50 healthy controls, and IR was calculated using the Homeostasis Model Assessment of Insulin Resistance Index (HOMA-IR).

Results: Studied patients had significantly higher HOMA-IR indices and serum fetuin-A levels than control subjects (P=0.001 and <0.001, respectively) and they were significantly increased in patients with severe lesions (P<0.001).

Conclusion: We found that IR was more significantly prevalent among studied patients, especially those with more severe acne grades, and that could be attributed to higher serum fetuin-A levels. Fetuin -A might be a predictor for acne severity and associated metabolic comorbid conditions, such as IR. However, further large-scale studies will be needed.

Keywords: Post-adolescent acne; fetuin-A; insulin resistance.