Frequency and Clinical Variants of Pigmentary Demarcation Lines in Pregnancy in a Tertiary Health Facility, South Western Nigeria

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Pigmentary demarcation lines are sharp clear physiological borders of abrupt transition lines
from areas of hyperpigmentation to the areas of less pigmentation or normal skin colour. These lines are of
clinical important due to the marked cosmetic anxiety caused in pregnancy.
OBJECTIVES: To determine the prevalence and identify the types of pigmentary demarcation lines associated
with pregnancy.
MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study included 440 participants comprising 220 primigravidae attending
antenatal clinic who were followed-up till third trimester and 220 nulliparous as controls recruited from infertility
clinic who fulfilled the inclusion criteria.
RESULTS: The mean age of the subjects and controls were 27.61 ± 3.93 and 26.83 ± 4.07 years respectively.
No type-A was noticed among the pregnant subjects. Type-B PDL was not seen in the first trimester. In the
second trimester, 1.8% of the subjects developed type-B PDL. This figure was doubled 3.6% by the third
trimester. No type-B PDLs was noticed among the controls. Type-A co-existing with type-B was observed in
0.5% of the subjects in first and second trimesters and 1.0% of the subjects in the third trimester.
CONCLUSION: The prevalence of pigmentary demarcation lines is low in this study, it has however created
awareness about its existence in this environment. Frequency also increased as pregnancy advanced.
Therefore counselling and reassurance of the patients about the physiological nature of these pigmentary
changes should be part of the routine antenatal clinics.