Coronary artery disease (CAD) is rapidly increasing in prevalence across the world and particularly in south Asians at a relatively younger age. As atherosclerosis starts in early childhood, the process of risk evalua...Coronary artery disease (CAD) is rapidly increasing in prevalence across the world and particularly in south Asians at a relatively younger age. As atherosclerosis starts in early childhood, the process of risk evaluation must start quite early. The present review addresses the issue of cutaneous markers associated with atherosclerosis, and the strengths and weaknesses of the markers in identifying early coronary atherosclerosis. A diligent search for such clinical markers, namely xanthelasma, xanthoma, arcus juvenilis, acanthosis nigricans, skin tags, ear lobe crease, nicotine stains, premature graying in smokers, hyperpigmented hands in betel quid sellers, central obesity, and signs of peripheral vascular disease may prove to be a rewarding exercise in identifying asymptomatic CAD in high risk individuals.展开更多
Coronary artery disease (CAD) is a multifactorial disease wherein hereditary and environmental factors play a major role. Our hypothesis is that an individual’s genetic profile functions as soil while various environ...Coronary artery disease (CAD) is a multifactorial disease wherein hereditary and environmental factors play a major role. Our hypothesis is that an individual’s genetic profile functions as soil while various environmental factors such as physical inactivity, smoking, stress etc. act as seeds in the etiopathogenesis of CAD. Much of the information regarding genetic and environmental factors can be determined in a pedigree chart by taking a history of the index patient, including details of major risk factors such as age, sex, smoking, hypertension, diabetes, coronary artery disease and stroke in the family. Preparing such a chart is a cost-effective way of initiating primary preventive measures in patients in a developing economy. The advantage of a detailed pedigree chart is to provide a snapshot view of the evident and underlying risk factors in the family as a whole, and not to merely study conventional risk factors. It elucidates the hidden stressors and hereditary factors responsible for cardiovascular disease in the family. We report herein an illustrative pedigree chart which exemplifies our above hypothesis.展开更多
文摘Coronary artery disease (CAD) is rapidly increasing in prevalence across the world and particularly in south Asians at a relatively younger age. As atherosclerosis starts in early childhood, the process of risk evaluation must start quite early. The present review addresses the issue of cutaneous markers associated with atherosclerosis, and the strengths and weaknesses of the markers in identifying early coronary atherosclerosis. A diligent search for such clinical markers, namely xanthelasma, xanthoma, arcus juvenilis, acanthosis nigricans, skin tags, ear lobe crease, nicotine stains, premature graying in smokers, hyperpigmented hands in betel quid sellers, central obesity, and signs of peripheral vascular disease may prove to be a rewarding exercise in identifying asymptomatic CAD in high risk individuals.
文摘Coronary artery disease (CAD) is a multifactorial disease wherein hereditary and environmental factors play a major role. Our hypothesis is that an individual’s genetic profile functions as soil while various environmental factors such as physical inactivity, smoking, stress etc. act as seeds in the etiopathogenesis of CAD. Much of the information regarding genetic and environmental factors can be determined in a pedigree chart by taking a history of the index patient, including details of major risk factors such as age, sex, smoking, hypertension, diabetes, coronary artery disease and stroke in the family. Preparing such a chart is a cost-effective way of initiating primary preventive measures in patients in a developing economy. The advantage of a detailed pedigree chart is to provide a snapshot view of the evident and underlying risk factors in the family as a whole, and not to merely study conventional risk factors. It elucidates the hidden stressors and hereditary factors responsible for cardiovascular disease in the family. We report herein an illustrative pedigree chart which exemplifies our above hypothesis.
