Affiliations: [a] Department of Dermatovenereology, Gulhane Research and Training Hospital, Ankara, Turkey | [b] Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Hacettepe University, Ankara, Turkey | [c] Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Faculty of Medicine, Hacettepe University, Ankara, Turkey
Correspondence:
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Corresponding author: Hanife Guler Donmez, Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Hacettepe University, 06800 Beytepe, Ankara, Turkey. Tel.: +90 05385727143; E-mail: hnftnr@gmail.com.
Abstract: BACKGROUND: Acrochordons are benign hypertrophic lesions of the skin of which the pathophysiology is unclear. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to examine the association of acrochordons with autoimmune disorders in patients with a poor obstetric history. METHODS: This retrospective cohort involved 350 female patients with poor obstetric history who were included in a preconceptional care program to investigate risk factors for obstetric complications. These patients were further investigated for the co-existence of autoimmune disorders (defined by either a diagnosis of autoimmune diseases or autoimmune antibody positivity) and acrochordons. RESULTS: An autoimmune disorder was present in 55.7% (195/350) of the patients. The rate of acrochordons was significantly higher in patients with autoimmune disorders (n= 195) compared to the control group (n= 155) (8.21% versus 2.58%, respectively) (p= 0.043). When the autoimmune disease positive (n= 58) and autoimmune antibody-positive (n= 137) groups were separately analyzed, acrochordons were found more frequently in the autoimmune disease group (p= 0.004). However, there was no statistically significant co-occurrence of autoimmune antibody positivity and the presence of skin tags (p= 0.135). CONCLUSION: There may be immune system-related biological mechanisms underlying the pathogenesis of acrochordons. Preconceptional counseling is beneficial for women with poor obstetric history and acrochordons.
