Anterior Tragal Crease Is Associated With Atherosclerosis

A Study Evaluating Carotid Artery Intima–Media Thickness

Rerknimitr, Pawinee MD, MSc
Pongpairoj, Korbkarn MD, MSc
Kumtornrat, Chanat MD, MSc
Panchaprateep, Ratchathorn MD, PhD
Hurst, Cameron P. PhD
Chutinet, Aurauma MD, MSc
Asawanonda, Pravit MD, DSc
Suwanwela, Nijasri C. MD

¹Division of Dermatology, Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Allergy and Clinical Immunology Research Group, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
²Dermatology Unit, Department of Medicine, King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital, Thai Red Cross Society, Bangkok, Thailand
³Faculty of Medicine, Center for Excellence in Biostatistics, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
⁴Division of Neurology, Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital, Thai Red Cross Society, Bangkok, Thailand

Pawinee Rerknimitr, Division of Dermatology, Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok 10330, Thailand. Email: [email protected]

Angiology 68(8):p 683-687, September 2017. | DOI: 10.1177/0003319716685481

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 β_ATC = .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.