If you have yellowish, flat plagues on the upper or lower eyelid (Xanthelasmata), you might like to see a cardiologist.
A new study published in BMJ indicated that occurrence of xanthelasmata is linked to an increased risk of mycardial infarction (MI), ischemic heart disease, and death.
The study included 12,745 people who were followed for 33 years (from 1976 to 1978 until May 2009).
Results showed that participants who had xanthelasmata had an increased risk of MI, ischemic heart disease, severe atherosclerosis, and death compared with individuals without xanthelasmata.
| Event |
Risk increase |
| MI |
48% |
| Ischemic heart disease |
39% |
| Severe atherosclerosis |
69% |
| Death |
14% |
The investigators believed that patients with xanthelasmata have a propensity to deposit cholesterol in the blood vessels, even though their cholesterol levels are not high.
As a result, patients with xanthelasmata should be considered for statin therapy, even though the cholesterol levels are not high.
If you are one of these patients, you might like to consult your physicians for statin therapy.
Source: British Medical Journal, 2011
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