Acrochordons and autoimmunity: Significance of preconceptional counseling

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.