Abstract:
Introduction.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, numerous signs and clinical
phenomena were investigated in regard to their association with SARSCoV-2 infection, especially the cutaneous signs from various body
regions. Previously there was described an auricular COVID-19 marker,
with an edema involving the superior tragus, supratragus notch and
the ascending branch of the helix. The Franks Sign (FS) is an
established auricular marker of cardiopulmonary disease and may be
an another potential COVID-19 marker, due to the severe impact of the
disease on the cardiopulmonary system.
Purpose.
Evaluating the frequency and expression of
Franks sign in patients with COVID-19, in
comparison with healthy controls.
Material and methods.
There were enrolled 60 individuals (aged 35-60 years), of which: 40
COVID-19 patients (20 severe form, post-ventilator therapy; 20 mild
form, outpatient care) and 20 healthy controls (negative PCR, no
COVID-19 history). FS was identified by an experimented investigator,
and special criteria for FS expression were developed, based on the
quantitative features (length, indentation degree). The activity of
cardiovascular system was evaluated via an autonomic index (MI
myocardial index) of vascular coronary system regulation (ECG
dispersion mapping).
Results.
• In patients with severe COVID-19, FS is 2 times more common than
in mild COVID-19 and 3 times more common when compared to
controls.
• In severe patients, the FS intensity is 5 times higher vs. patients with
mild form and 10 times higher vs. healthy people.
• There was a higher frequency (p<0.05) and intensity (p<0.001) of FS
in severe COVID-19 than in mild form.
• The same trend was observed for MI values (p<0.001).
Conclusions.
• Our preliminary results showed a correlation of the presence and
expression of the diagonal ear lobe crease Franks sign) with the
clinical variants of the disease.
• The auricular signs Franks sign and other auricular marks) need
further study in order to identify their predictor roles and their
significance in the COVID-19 disease course.
