title: [The diagonal ear lobe crease for evaluating coronary risk].
abstract: Though the predictive value of a diagonal earlobe crease (ELC) concerning coronary heart disease (CHD) is assessed controversially and seems to be influenced by age and ethnic origin, the ELC is mainly regarded as a reliable and valid sign of CHD. 670 patients, the greatest collective so far undergoing coronary angiography, were investigated prospectively with respect to the correlation between ELC and a hemodynamically relevant CHD (coronary diameter stenosis > 70%). In presence of ELC, CHD was observed in 55.0%, in its absence in 55.9% (One-vessel-disease (1-VD) 25.8% vs 26.7%, 2-VD 14.5% vs 14.4%, > 2-VD 14.8% vs 14.8%; n.s.). ELC itself was dependent on age (p < 0.000009), overweight (body mass index (BMI) > 25 kg/m2, p < 0.034) and hyperuricemia (> 7.0 mg%; p < 0.05), but not influenced by sex and other coronary risk factors such as smoking, diabetes, hypercholesterinemia and hyperlipoidemia, physical in-activity and family history of CHD. Actual just as former smoking and male sex are associated positively to CHD, whereas diabetes, hypercholesterinemia and hyperlipoidemia seem to predict a two-or multivessel disease: this emphasizes the validity of our data.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The ear-lobe crease is associated with age and overweight, but does not predict a hemodynamically relevant coronary heart disease.
authors.affiliation: Medizinische Klinik des Waldkrankenhauses St. Marien Abteilung Kardiologie, Erlangen.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kuon
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Pfahlbusch
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Lang
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D017023:Coronary Angiography; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology; D004431:Ear, External; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006801:Humans; D008019:Life Style; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors
vernacular_title: Die diagonale Ohrläppchenfalte in der Bewertung des Koronarrisikos.