Abstract
Background and Aims: Diagonal earlobe crease (ELC) has been considered a potential cutaneous marker of atherosclerosis. However, the potential mechanism by which ELC and atherosclerosis are linked has not been adequately defined. Roles of adropin and irisin, novel biomarkers of endothelial function, in ELC have not been well-studied. This study aimed to test whether individuals with ELC are deficient in adropin and irisin, a characteristic that would likely promote endothelial dysfunction and provide a plausible common pathological basis for atherosclerosis and ELC.Methods: Patients diagnosed with coronary artery disease (CAD) with (n = 45) and without (n = 45) ELC were consecutively enrolled in the study. The ages of the patients enrolled ranged from 40–70 years. Other patients (n = 45) without ELC or CAD were recruited as the control group. All patients underwent coronary angiography. Serum adropin and irisin concentrations were assessed via enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.Results: Circulating levels of irisin in the ELC group were significantly lower than those in the non-ELC group, and were highest in the control group. Serum adropin levels of the ELC group were significantly lower than those of the non-ELC group (P < 0.001). Interestingly, although the serum adropin level of the control group was greater than that of the non-ELC group, the difference failed to achieve statistical significance. In subgroup analysis of CAD and ELC, both serum adropin and irisin levels of the CAD and ELC groups were lower than those of the control group (P < 0.001). Receiver-operating characteristic curve analysis revealed that adropin and irisin have similar prognostic power for CAD and ELC.Conclusions: Low adropin and irisin were significantly associated with CAD and ELC. The deficiencies in adropin and irisin may be a common cause of both atherosclerosis and ELC, which explains why patients with ELC are prone to CAD.
Highlights
Coronary artery disease (CAD) is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide, conferring significant individual health and societal consequences [1]
No notable discrepancies were noted among groups regarding risk factors for atherosclerosis, such as hypertension, diabetes mellitus, dyslipidemia, obesity, and smoking status
There was no difference in SYNTEX scores between the ear lobe crease (ELC) group and non-ELC group (Supplementary Figure 1)
Summary
Coronary artery disease (CAD) is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide, conferring significant individual health and societal consequences [1]. Numerous epidemiological studies have demonstrated that visible signs, including baldness, ear lobe crease (ELC), and xanthelasmata, either alone or in combination, are associated with increased CAD risk in the general population, independent of well-known cardiovascular risk factors [2]. Many epidemiological and meta-analyses have demonstrated that ELC is independently linked to CAD, and the sign has been recognized as a simple cutaneous marker of cardiovascular disease (CVD) pre-disposition [4,5,6,7,8,9,10]. The association between CVD and ELC remains unclear because pathophysiologic mechanisms linking the disease to the marker have not yet been elucidated [11]. Diagonal earlobe crease (ELC) has been considered a potential cutaneous marker of atherosclerosis. This study aimed to test whether individuals with ELC are deficient in adropin and irisin, a characteristic that would likely promote endothelial dysfunction and provide a plausible common pathological basis for atherosclerosis and ELC
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
