Diagonal ear-lobe crease: an independent risk factor in coronary heart disease?

A DIAGONAL ear-lobe crease as an independent risk factor in coronary heart disease was first suggested by Frank" 2 in 1973 and further work by Lichstein and associates3 4, s supported Frank's initial observations. One study by Christiansen J. S. and co-workers6 in Denmark went as far as to suggest a more positive correlation between the ear-lobe crease and coronary heart disease than between the accepted major risk factors of arterial hypertension, cigarette smoking and diabetes mellitus and coronary heart disease. Against this Mehta and Hamby' showed no correlation between the ear-lobe crease and coronary heart disease and suggested a previously observed increase in incidence of ear-lobe creases with increasing age as the only important factor. With this as a background, we decided to undertake a small survey of patients with proven coronary heart disease to see if this easily detectable sign was relevant as a marker in patients at risk of coronary heart disease.