Relationship Between Ear Lobe Crease,Sublingual Vein And Coronary Artery Disease

ObjectivesTO investigate the relationship between coronary artery disease(CAD)and ear lobe crease(ELC),as well as CAD and sublingual vein.And to determine whether they are potential clinical markers that can predict coronary artery disease(CAD).Methods:158 patients who were clinically suspected of having CAD with chest pain were studied.The ear lobe crease and sublingual vein were ascertained for each patient once they were enrolled.Coronary computed tomography angiography(CTA)or invasive coronary angiography(CAG)were underwent among all the patients.we divided the patients into two groups,a CAD group(n = 68)and a non-CAD group(n = 90).CAD group was defined as lumen diameter stenosis)50%by CAG or CTA in at least one major coronary artery.Data for medical histories were fully collected before statistical analysis.Results:The prevalence of ELC was 57.6%.ELC was significantly associated with age,and the severity of lumen diameter stenosis.The sensitivity and specificity of ELC for detecting CAD were80.9%and60.0%respectively.The prevalence of sublingual vein was 39.8%.sublingual vein was significantly associated with age,hypertension and the severity of lumen diameter stenosis.The sensitivity and specificity of sublingual vein for detecting CAD were 69.1%and 82.2%respectively.After combining these two markers,The sensitivity and specificity turned to be 61.8%,90%.Futhermore,the specificity in women(94.3%)was much higher then men.After adjusting for traditional vascular risk factors in a logistic regression model,both ELC(P=0.008)and sublingual vein(P=0.000)were independent predictors of CAD.Conclusions:The ELC and sublingual vein may be clinical clues of the presence of coronary artery disease.