Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 12, 2026
Coronary Progenitor Cells and Soluble Biomarkers in Cardiovascular Prognosis after Coronary Angioplasty
Published on: January 28, 2020
[The coronary sulcus and ischemic cardiopathy: an independent association of risk factors]
J J Gil Madre1, M M Cruz Acquaroni, S Mateo Ontañón
1Unidad de Cuidados Intensivos, Hospital Virgen de la Salud, Toledo.
Insights
The presence of a coronary sulcus (earlobe crease) is linked to ischemic heart disease, particularly in older females. This association is independent of traditional cardiac risk factors, suggesting it may be a distinct indicator.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Dermatology
- Preventive Medicine
Background:
- A coronary sulcus, or earlobe crease, has been anecdotally linked to ischemic heart disease.
- The precise nature of this association and its independence from traditional risk factors remain unclear.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between coronary sulcus and established coronary risk factors.
- To determine if the association between coronary sulcus and ischemic heart disease is independent of these risk factors.
Main Methods:
- A comparative analysis was conducted on 222 intensive care unit patients, divided into groups based on the presence of a coronary sulcus.
- Key variables analyzed included age, sex, coronary artery disease, hyperglycemia, hyperlipidemia, hypertension, body mass index, and smoking habits.
- Logistic regression and diagnostic marker analysis (sensitivity, specificity) were employed.
Main Results:
- Individuals with a coronary sulcus were older, had higher cholesterol and BMI, and were more frequently female and had ischemic heart disease.
- Logistic regression revealed that only age and female sex were significantly associated with coronary sulcus presence.
- Coronary sulcus demonstrated high sensitivity (87.6%) but low specificity (41.2%) as a marker for coronary artery disease.
Conclusions:
- The prevalence of coronary sulcus increases with age and is higher in patients with ischemic heart disease.
- The observed association between coronary sulcus and ischemic heart disease is independent of classical coronary risk factors.
Background:
Coronary sulcus of the auricular lobe has been related to the presence of ischemic cardiopathy although the nature of this relation has not been well defined. The aim of the present study was to determine whether there is a relation between the sulcus and the classical coronary risk factors, or whether the association between coronariopathy and sulcus is independent of such factors.
Methods:
Patients admitted into an intensive care unit (n = 222) were divided into two groups according to whether coronary sulcus was present and the following analysis were performed: 1) comparative study between the groups for the variables: age, sex, coronariopathy, hyperglycemia, hyperlipidemia, hypertension, index of body mass, and tobacco habit. 2) logistic regression analysis used as a variable to study the existence of coronary sulcus and as independent factors the different coronary risk factors. 3) calculation of sensitivity and specificity of the coronary sulcus as a marker of ischemic cardiopathy.
Results:
In the comparison between groups the individuals with coronary sulcus had greater age, cholesterolemia, index of body mass, with greater frequency found in females with ischemic cardiopathy. In the logistic regression analysis the presence of coronary sulcus was only associated by order of statistical significance to the variables of age and the female sex. In this study, coronary sulcus was a sensitive (87.6%) although unspecific (41.2%) marker of coronariopathy.
Conclusions:
The prevalence of coronary sulcus increases with age, and is greater in patients with ischemic cardiopathy. This relation is independent of the classical coronary risk factors.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
01:17Ischemic Heart Disease: Overview
Atherosclerosis, the primary malefactor, orchestrates this dangerous condition. It manifests as the accumulation of fatty deposits, akin to insidious plaques, within arterial walls. As time elapses, these plaques metamorphose, hardening and narrowing...
01:30Coronary Artery Disease I: Introduction
01:26Coronary Artery Disease II: Pathophysiology
01:30Coronary Artery Disease III: Clinical Manifestations
01:26Coronary Artery Disease IV: Preventive Measures
01:19Acute Coronary Syndrome II: Pathophysiology and Clinical Manifestations