Diagonal Earlobe Crease are Associated With Shorter Telomere in Male Japanese Patients With Metabolic Syndrome A Pilot Study

Abstract

Background Diagonal earlobe crease (ELC) have been proposed as a marker of generalized atherosclerosis, so in the present study it was investigated whether individuals with ELC have a shortened telomere, which correlates with an accelerated cell turnover and premature aging, leading to atherosclerosis. Methods and ResultsThe mean terminal restriction fragment (TRF) was determined by Southern blot hybridization in the peripheral blood cells of 34 male Japanese patients with metabolic syndrome (MetS) who were under 70 years of age with (n=17) and without (n=17) bilateral ELC, and assessed the relationship of ELC to atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (AVD). The results showed that the TRF was shorter in the MetS patients with ELC in comparison to age-and risk-factor-matched MetS patients without ELC (7.6±1.1 kbp vs 8.6±1.2 kbp; P<0.05). ELC were present in 13 patients in the AVD group (n=18), but only 4 patients in the non-AVD group (n=16) had ELC (72.2% and 25% respectively; P<0.05). Conclusions These findings suggest that ELC is a useful dermatological indicator of an accelerated aging process, as suggested by excessive telomere loss, and might be a useful indirect marker of high-risk patients. (Circ J 2009; 73: 274 -279)

Diagonal earlobe crease and coronary artery disease in a Chinese population

“…As for hypercholesterolemia and hypertriglyceridemia were concerned, a Japanese study [7] suggested a strong correlation with CAD (in the subgroup not certified by CAG). But the present data detected no relation, which went along with Jords and others [4,27,31], and also the result of the same Japanese study [7] (only when CAD being defined by CAG were included). Being not in line with other studies [7,26-28], we found DELC was not related with diabetes mellitus as reported by Kaukola and others samples involving both CAD and non CAD population [4,28,32].…”

“…When it comes to other diseases accompanying DELC, a few results have been reported by different authors. They may include the thickened carotid IMT in a population sample of middle-aged adults without known atherosclerotic disease, more cardiac event morbidity and mortality, higher preoperative risk, increased arterial stiffness, metabolic syndrome, and the development of a first acute myocardial infarction (AMI) as followed for a 6.5 year interval after controlling for age and sex [4,5,7,22-24,27,28]. …”

Earlobe Crease Shapes and Cardiovascular Events

“…17 A correlation between ELC and shortened telomeres, which are associated with premature aging and atherosclerosis, has also been suggested. 18 Although ischemic strokes comprise quite a few of cardioembolisms unrelated to atherosclerosis, lacunar and particularly atherothrombotic stroke are closely associated with CAD, which could explain the association with ELC. The addition of TIAs to the ischemic stroke group constituting ischemic cerebrovascular disease was not statistically significant, perhaps because of the misclassification as TIA of some poorly defined transient neurologic defects, as far as TIA diagnosis is clinical.…”

Diagonal Ear-Lobe Crease is Correlated With Atherosclerotic Changes in Carotid Arteries

“…15 ELC and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease in metabolic syndrome patients. 27 Various studies have found varying degrees of association between ELC and CAD, and various mechanisms of association are suggested. Systemic arterial atherosclerosis is a progressive condition and involves various arteries leading to some of the most devastating outcomes.…”