Relation of corneal arcus with coronary artery disease.

The corneal arcus is probably a useful clinical marker to identify patients with coronary artery disease.To evaluate the independent association between the corneal arcus and coronary artery disease as well as the possibility of a relation betweenthe magnitude of the sing and the severity of the disease; and it`s efficiency as a diagnostic marker, conditioned by this association.A descriptive transverse study was conducted at the Cardiology Service of Hermanos Ameijeiras Hospital’s from February 2009 until June2010, to assess independent association between corneal arcus and coronary artery disease, the possibility of a relationship between thesign magnitude and severity of the disease; and its effectiveness as a diagnostic marker, conditioned by this association. The sample wasformed by 176 patients with coronary angiography, divided into two groups: 93 with coronary artery disease and 83 with normal coronaryarteries to determine if there was corneal arcus.A correlation between corneal arcus and coronary heart disease was obtained (p<0,001). The 87,2% of multivessel patients had cornealarcus (p=0,038) in a higher degree (29,79%). The sign showed the greatest statistical significance in relation to the coronary artery disease(p<0,001). The corneal arcus showed a sensitivity of 82,4% in over 50 years old and a greater specificity 90,5% in the lower age. It probesa positive association between the corneal arcus and coronary artery disease. This is reinforced with the finding of the sign at greater frequencyin multivessel patients.The degree of the corneal arcus is associated with increased extension of coronary heart disease, it`s association is independent of thecardiovascular risk factors and may be consider as a clinical marker of their presence; the efficacy as a diagnostic marker is acceptable,and greater over 50 years old.