Ananyaa Sinha

IMS and SUM hospitals, India

Abstract Title: Evaluation of insulin resistance with HOMA-IR index in cases of paediatric psoriasis: A case series

Biography:

Research Interest:

Background: Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory disorder increasingly associated with metabolic comorbidities, including insulin resistance. While this association is well established in adults, data in the paediatric population remain limited and inconsistent. This study aimed to evaluate insulin resistance in children with psoriasis using the HOMA-IR index.

Methods: This case series included nine children (≤18 years) with psoriasis presenting to a dermatology outpatient department. Patients with isolated nail, pustular, or erythrodermic psoriasis were excluded. Clinical evaluation included PASI, BSA, and CDLQI scoring along with anthropometric measurements. Fasting blood samples were analyzed for glucose, insulin, triglycerides, and HDL. Insulin resistance was calculated using the HOMA-IR formula, with a cutoff value of ≥2.5.

Results: The mean age was 10.9 ± 3.3 years, with a slight female predominance. The median PASI was 2.1, and BSA involvement ranged from 1% to 40%. Insulin resistance was identified in 3 out of 9 patients (33.3%). Notably, insulin resistance was observed even in children with BMI below the 75th percentile. Median HOMA-IR was 1.58, with median fasting glucose and insulin levels of 92 mg/dL and 7.1 µIU/mL respectively. No consistent correlation was found between disease severity and insulin resistance.

Conclusion: This case series highlights that insulin resistance may be present in paediatric psoriasis independent of obesity or disease severity, suggesting a role of systemic inflammation in early metabolic dysfunction. These findings underscore the importance of early metabolic screening in children with psoriasis. Larger controlled studies are required to further establish this association.