Frank's sign

Frank's sign or Frank sign is a diagonal ear lobe crease (ELC) extending diagonally from the tragus across the lobule to the rear edge of the auricle.[1]

It has been hypothesised that Frank's sign is indicative of cardiovascular disease[2] and/or diabetes. Some studies have described Frank's sign as a marker of cardiovascular disease but not linked to the severity of the condition.[3] In contrast, other studies have rebutted any association between Frank's sign and coronary artery disease.[4]

However, researchers do agree that these creases have no predictive value in Native American Indian and Oriental patients.

Some studies have focused upon bilateral ELC.[5]

The sign is named after Dr. Sanders T. Frank.

Contents

Severity

Notable Individuals with Frank's Sign

Links to images

References

  1. ^ Frank ST (August 1973). "Aural sign of coronary-artery disease". N. Engl. J. Med. 289 (6): 327–8. doi:10.1056/NEJM197308092890622. PMID 4718047. 
  2. ^ Miot, H.A., Molina de Medeiros, M. etal (2006). Association between coronary artery disease and the diagonal earlobe an preauricular creases in men. Anais Brasileiros de Dermatologia. vol.81 no.1
  3. ^ Lesbre JP, Castier B, Tribouilloy C, Labeille B, Isorni C (January 1987). "[Frank's sign and coronary disease]" (in French). Ann Cardiol Angeiol (Paris) 36 (1): 37–41. PMID 3827155. 
  4. ^ Davis TM, Balme M, Jackson D, Stuccio G, Bruce DG (October 2000). "The diagonal ear lobe crease (Frank's sign) is not associated with coronary artery disease or retinopathy in type 2 diabetes: the Fremantle Diabetes Study". Aust N Z J Med 30 (5): 573–7. doi:10.1111/j.1445-5994.2000.tb00858.x. PMID 11108067. 
  5. ^ Evrengül H, Dursunoğlu D, Kaftan A, et al. (2004). "Bilateral diagonal earlobe crease and coronary artery disease: a significant association". Dermatology (Basel) 209 (4): 271–5. doi:10.1159/000080847. PMID 15539887. http://content.karger.com/produktedb/produkte.asp?typ=fulltext&file=DRM2004209004271. 
Heart disease
Other
Vascular disease

M: HRT

anat/phys/devp

noco/cong/tumr, sysi/epon, injr

proc, drug (C1A/1B/1C/1D), blte

M: VAS

anat(a:h/u/t/a/l,v:h/u/t/a/l)/phys/devp/cell/prot

noco/syva/cong/lyvd/tumr, sysi/epon, injr

proc, drug(C2s+n/3/4/5/7/8/9)