Diagonal ear lobe crease and coronary risk factors.
The prevalence of ear lobe crease (ELC) was determined in 421 patients with myocardial infarction (MI) and in 421 controls. A higher prevalence (p less than 0.05) of ELC was found in MI patients (77 percent) in comparison to controls (40 percent), regardless of age. In addition, a higher prevalence was found in patients in whom MI was combined with diabetic retinopathy or hypertension, and in Ashkenazi Jews compared to non-Ashkenazi Jews. Ear lobe biopsies in 12 subjects revealed tears of the elastic fibers in all subjects with ELC, and prearteriole wall thickening in subjects with MI and/or ELC, but not in the 2 subjects with neither MI nor ELC. The early appearance of ELC may imply the existence of coronary heart disease with or without coronary risk factors.
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000175:diagnosis*; D004431:Ear, External / Q000473:pathology; D004547:Elastic Tissue / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007585:Jews; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000175:diagnosis; D012306:Risk; D012867:Skin / Q000473:pathology