Study To Evaluate The Frequency Of Diagonal Earlobe Crease As A Marker Of Coronary Artery Disease And Its Risk Factors In Tertiary Hospital Of East India.

Background: In coronary artery disease (CAD), the DELC (diagonal ear lobe crease) has been proposed as a marker but association remains controversial. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the frequency of DELC in patients with CAD. Materials and Methods: One hundred fifty four patients with coronary artery angiography proven CAD from RIMS, Ranchi, Jharkhand, India were evaluated for the presence or absence of DELC. The DELC was said to be present if the patient had crease extending diagonally from the tragus across the lobule to the rear edge of the without discontinuity. Observation: DELC was seen in 82 patients out of 154, and the prevalence was 53.24%. Prevalence of Hypertension, diabetes and dyslipidemia were 38.3% ,33.8% and 24.0% respectively and hypertension, diabetes and dyslipidemia were insignificant(P=0.245, P=0.526, P=0.203 respectively).There were 43 smoker (27.9%) and DELC with smoking was significant with p value(0.021). Conclusion: The frequency of DELC in patients with CAD was high in our study. The data suggest that the DELC sign may be a useful marker for the presence of CAD in patients and may help in early segregating at risk patient of CAD

Frank’s sign – A dermatological link to coronary artery disease?

Frank’s sign, also known as diagonal earlobe crease (DELC), was observed to be an aural sign of coronary artery disease (CAD). Since then, there has been much interest in examining this unique and controversial association. This report describes a patient who has bilateral complete and deep diagonal ear lobe creases, presented with angina and diagnosed to have coronary artery disease on angiography. The characteristics of the sign and its association with atherosclerotic disease were discussed.

Frank’s sign: silent predictor of coronary artery disease.

A 60 year old non hypertensive, non diabetic male presented in casualty with complaints of exertional breathlessness of 2 days duration. ECG and cardiac enzymes were within normal limit. General physical examination was normal except for the finding of bilateral ear lobe creases (Figure 1 & 2). With the possibility of angina equivalent patient was posted for coronary angiography which revealed total occlusion of left anterior descending artery and right coronary artery, 80% obtuse marginal and 70% left circumflex artery. LVEF was 25% and patient was advised for high risk CABG. Creased earlobes (Frank’s sign) were alleged to be associated with an increased risk of coronary artery disease.