[Diagonal earlobe crease, a sign of coronary artery disease]

Sebastián B Lamot1, Gustavo G Lonegro, Marcos Hernández

  • 1Departamento de Fisiología, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Argentina.

Medicina
|September 26, 2007
PubMed

Insights

The diagonal earlobe crease may indicate coronary artery disease. This sign showed significant relation in patients aged 30-60, suggesting its clinical usefulness for cardiovascular risk assessment.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiology
  • Dermatology

Context:

  • A diagonal earlobe crease is a potential, yet unproven, indicator of coronary artery disease (CAD).
  • Early identification of cardiovascular risk factors is crucial for preventative healthcare.

Purpose:

  • To investigate the diagnostic utility of the diagonal earlobe crease as a marker for coronary artery disease.
  • To determine the sensitivity, specificity, and predictive values of this sign in a clinical setting.

Summary:

  • A study examined 104 patients (ages 30-80), with 49 diagnosed with CAD via coronary angiography and/or myocardial perfusion imaging.
  • The diagonal earlobe crease demonstrated a sensitivity of 61.2% and specificity of 78.2% for CAD.
  • A significant association was found between the crease and CAD, particularly in patients aged 30-60.

Impact:

  • The diagonal earlobe crease may serve as a simple, non-invasive clinical sign for identifying individuals at risk of coronary artery disease.
  • This finding could aid clinicians in risk stratification, especially in younger to middle-aged populations (30-60 years).

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