Eyelid xanthoma associated with increased risk of myocardial infarction and stroke

2026/09/09 11:12

Xanthelasma forms yellow patches or bumps around the eyelids. The picture shows a close-up of xanthelasma on the eyelids. (Picture taken from Wikipedia)

[Compiled by Chen Chengliang/Comprehensive Report] Ophthalmology] If a small yellow bulge appears around the eyelids, it not only affects the appearance, but may also be related to the risk of myocardial infarction and stroke in the future. Researchers from Stanford University in the United States analyzed the health data of nearly 36,000 people and found that people with xanthelasma have higher incidence rates of myocardial infarction, stroke and transient ischemic attack, and the gap lasts until 10 years.

Science Alert, a science news website, reported that the study, published in Atherosclerosis, identified 17,925 adults diagnosed with xanthelasma from a large electronic medical record database, and then compared 17,925 people without xanthelasma as controls. Both groups excluded people who had had a myocardial infarction, stroke or transient ischemic attack in the past, and the researchers followed both groups at 1, 5 and 10 years.

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The study found that within the first year, 1% of patients with xanthelasma developed myocardial infarction compared with 0.35% in the control group; 0.95% vs. 0.30% had a stroke; and 0.60% vs. 0.19% had a transient ischemic attack, commonly known as a "mini-stroke." Converting the actual number of people, 178 people in the xanthoma group had myocardial infarction in the first year, compared with 63 people in the control group.

Risk gap seen all the way to 10 years

By the fifth year, the incidence of myocardial infarction was 2.26% in the xanthoma group and 1.13% in the control group; stroke was 2.25% and 1.03%; and transient ischemic attack was 1.60% and 0.74%. At 10 years, disparities persisted with myocardial infarction at 3.13% versus 1.73%, stroke at 3.00% versus 1.53%, and transient ischemic attack at 2.00% versus 1.13%.

Xanthoma is a skin lesion that appears as yellow patches or bumps around the eyes. It is mainly caused by the accumulation of fatty substances such as cholesterol under the skin. "Science Alert" points out that this condition often occurs together with high blood cholesterol, but not all patients have abnormal blood lipids. Research data also shows that about 60% of patients with xanthelasma have elevated total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and triglycerides.

The research team reminds that the exact relationship between xanthelasma and myocardial infarction and stroke still needs further study. The findings show an association between the two, rather than proving that yellow patches on the eyelids themselves cause myocardial infarction or stroke. Researchers believe that xanthoma may become a clinical indicator that doctors can refer to when assessing cardiovascular and cerebrovascular risks.