Dermatoglyphs in leukaemia

Palmar and digital dermatoglyphic features of hypertensive and diabetic Malawian patients

We determined the palmar and digital dermatoglyphic features of 165 black Malawian patients with diabetes mellitus and hypertension, aged 25-66 years attending the medical outpatient clinics at Lilongwe and Queen Elizabeth Central Hospitals by analyzing their total finger ridge count (TFRC), pattern intensity index (PII), atd angle and a-b ridge counts and compared these parameters with those of healthy controls previously studied, matched for age and sex. Differences were observed only in digital ridge patterns: whorls were absent in hypertensive patients and in men with diabetes and hypertension; and there was a significant rise in percentage frequency of ulnar loops (P < 0.001) in women with hypertension. Similarly, the percentage frequencies of whorls in women with both diabetes and hypertension were significantly lower than in women with hypertension alone (P < 0.05). The TFRC differentiated healthy subjects from hypertensive men (P < 0.05) and women (P < 0.001). Equally the a-b ridge count could differentiate diabetic and hypertensive men (P < 0.001) and women (P < 0.05) just as it did for women with diabetes alone and those with diabetes and hypertension (P < 0.001). The PII and atd angle were higher in patients than in healthy subjects. A higher than normal PII suggests the occurrence of these disease conditions in this African population, thereby providing a window for intervention in later life.

Dermatoglyphic patterns, very low birth weight, and blood pressure in adolescence

AIMS

To test the null hypotheses that finger and palm prints have no relation with fetal growth or adolescent blood pressure.

METHODS

All 128 singleton, unimpaired, very low birth weight (VLBW; < or =1500 g) infants born to mothers resident in the county of Merseyside in 1980 and 1981 were studied retrospectively. The comparison group consisted of 128 age, sex, and school matched children. Main outcome measures were blood pressure at age 15 years, birth weight ratio, fingerprint patterns, and palmar AtD angles.

RESULTS

The VLBW index population had a significantly higher systolic blood pressure than the comparison group (mean difference 3.2 mm Hg). The difference in diastolic blood pressure between the VLBW index and the matched comparison group was not significant. No significant differences were found in the palmar AtD angles or in the fingerprint proportions of arches, loops, and whorls and no correlation was found between fingerprint patterns and blood pressure. Among the VLBW index population, both height and right palmar AtD angle were independently and significantly correlated with and explained 12.1% of the variance in the systolic blood pressure. Birth weight ratio, as a measure of fetal growth restriction, had no significant correlation with systolic blood pressure.

CONCLUSIONS

The higher systolic blood pressure of adolescents who were of very low birth weight compared with the matched comparison group is not associated with fingerprint patterns or birth weight ratio as markers for fetal growth restriction.

Dermatoglyphic patterns in children with chronic constipation

Analysis of the fine ridge configurations on the digits of the palms and soles (dermatoglyphics) may sometimes help in the diagnoses of certain medical disorders. Dermatoglyphic patterns have been reported to be associated with congenital anomalies, such as congenital heart disease, duodenal ulcer, abdominal pain, and constipation. The palmar dermatoglyphic patterns of 77 children with constipation (39 functional and 38 organic constipation) were recorded. The control group consisted of 84 children with inguinal hernia. Those patients with at least one arch identified on any digit of either hand were termed arch positive. There was no significant correlation between arch positivity and constipation (functional or organic), or inguinal hernia (chi square, P = 0.9211). Therefore, the presence of palmar arches cannot be used as a screening device for children with chronic constipation, especially of organic etiology.

Dermatoglyphics and acute lymphocytic leukemia in children

Cellular features of acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL) in children suggest that it originates in abnormal embryogenesis. Because palmar flexion creases develop in the embryo at the same time as the blood-forming cells, and because both arise from mesodermal tissue, insults to the embryo that may lead to leukemic changes in the blood-forming cells may also result in aberrant palmar crease patterns. This study investigated the relationship between aberrant palmar creases and ALL in children who developed leukemia at age 6 years or younger. Odds ratios and chi squares demonstrated significant differences in bilateral aberrant palmar creases between ALL children and relatives (P less than .025). Differences were not explained by familial clustering of aberrant creases. These results support the theory that the insult occurred during pregnancy, probably in the first trimester. There were no significant differences in either bilateral or unilateral aberrant palmar creases between ALL children and their siblings. All children with bilateral aberrant creases had a higher incidence of central nervous system involvement (50%) than those without bilateral aberrant creases (6%). This may reflect a preleukemic change in utero before the time the blood-brain barrier has been established.

Dermatoglyphics in dermatitis herpetiformis

In a dermatoglyphic study of 101 patients with dermatitis herpetiformis, comparison was made with their normal relatives and several random normal series. The results of the several comparisons are quite consistent, considering the nature of the data, for the all point to an attenuation of qualitative and quantitative digital and palmar traits in the patients. It is argued that these differences are associated with the disease itself, and that some of the female relatives have an inherited tendency to the disorder, but do not express it. The findings suggest the involvement of genetic factors in the aetiology, and possibly intrauterine environmental influences as well.

Dermatoglyphics in children with acute leukaemia

The dermatoglyphics of 135 children with acute leukaemia differed significantly from those of normal controls, and examination of 174 of the patients' first degree relatives indicated that familial factors were involved. The findings suggested that within the racial group studied dermatoglyphics may partly identify a population subgroup which is at increased risk of leukaemogenesis. While these observations may not have immediate clinical application, they are likely to contribute to a greater understanding of individuals who have increased constitutional susceptibility to leukaemia.

Dermatoglyphics: a diagnostic aid?

Dermatoglyphics of patients suffering from diabetes, schizophrenia, duodenal ulcer, asthma, and various cancers have been contrasted and significant differences in the digital ridge counts, maximum atd angles, and distal palmar loop ridge counts have been found. A discriminant analysis of the digital ridge counts was performed and the function was used to attempt differential diagnosis between these conditions on dermatoglyphic evidence alone. This diagnostic trial failed, and possible reasons for its failure are discussed. Attention is drawn to the possibility that prognostic implications of dermatoglyphics might be relevant to screening techniques.

Dermatophyphics in childhood leukemia

The dermatoglyphics of 54 leukemic children do not differ significantly from those of 25 mothers and 592 unrelated controls with respect to frequency of digital pattern types, position of axial triradius, or type of palmar flexion creases. These findings do not support the hypothesis that children with leukemia have an increased frequency of unusual dermal patterns, but suggest that the dermatoglyphics of leukemic children are not distinctive and therefore have no practical value in the diagnosis of childhood leukemia. Whatever factors are responsible for the development of leukemia in children, these factors do not appear regularly to affect the differentiation of the dermal ridges.