title: Anterior Tragal Crease Is Associated With Atherosclerosis: A Study Evaluating Carotid Artery Intima-Media Thickness.
abstract: The utility of the ear crease sign, anterior tragal crease (ATC), as a marker of atherosclerosis is yet to be established. The intima-media thickness of the common carotid artery (IMT-CCA) has been used as a noninvasive surrogate marker for atherosclerosis. History of traditional risk factors for atherosclerosis was obtained from 147 volunteers; ear examination was also performed and venous blood was drawn for laboratory analysis. The volunteers then underwent an ultrasonography measurement of the IMT-CCA. In univariate analysis, presence of ATC, age, underlying hypertension, diabetes mellitus, ischemic heart disease, cerebrovascular disease, cigarette smoking, low-density lipoprotein, and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein were significantly associated with the IMT-CCA. Further multivariate analysis confirmed a significant association between the presence of ATC and IMT-CCA, when adjusted for other factors (adjusted βATC= .010, 95% confidence interval: 0.0021-0.019). Anterior tragal crease is a potential clinical sign that can predict atherosclerosis. The sign is easily recognizable and may help health-care professionals to identify those at risk of atherosclerosis, especially in people with no clinical signs of the disease.
authors.affiliation: 1 Division of Dermatology, Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Allergy and Clinical Immunology Research Group, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand.
authors.forename: Pawinee
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Rerknimitr
authors.affiliation: 1 Division of Dermatology, Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Allergy and Clinical Immunology Research Group, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand.
authors.forename: Korbkarn
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Pongpairoj
authors.affiliation: 1 Division of Dermatology, Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Allergy and Clinical Immunology Research Group, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand.|2 Dermatology Unit, Department of Medicine, King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital, Thai Red Cross Society, Bangkok, Thailand.
authors.forename: Chanat
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Kumtornrat
authors.affiliation: 1 Division of Dermatology, Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Allergy and Clinical Immunology Research Group, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand.
authors.forename: Ratchathorn
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Panchaprateep
authors.affiliation: 3 Faculty of Medicine, Center for Excellence in Biostatistics, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand.
authors.forename: Cameron P
authors.initials: CP
authors.lastname: Hurst
authors.affiliation: 4 Division of Neurology, Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital, Thai Red Cross Society, Bangkok, Thailand.
authors.forename: Aurauma
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Chutinet
authors.affiliation: 1 Division of Dermatology, Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Allergy and Clinical Immunology Research Group, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand.
authors.forename: Pravit
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Asawanonda
authors.affiliation: 4 Division of Neurology, Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital, Thai Red Cross Society, Bangkok, Thailand.
authors.forename: Nijasri C
authors.initials: NC
authors.lastname: Suwanwela
mesh_terms: D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D002340:Carotid Artery Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D017536:Carotid Artery, Common / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D059168:Carotid Intima-Media Thickness; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004431:Ear, External / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors; D014463:Ultrasonography / Q000379:methods
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers
keywords: anterior tragal crease; atherosclerosis; common carotid artery; diagonal earlobe crease; ear crease; intima–media thickness