Dermatoglyphics: A Diagnostic Tool
to Predict Diabetes
327-332
Correspondence
Manoj Kumar Sharma
III/5, Staff quarters, Medical College Campus,
Jhalawar Medical College, Jhalawar
Pincode-326001(Rajasthan), India
Phone: 09929391333; 09667334455
E-mail: drmanojsharma2002@yahoo.co.in
Introduction: The study of the epidermal ridges on the volar aspect of the hands and feet which form a variety of pattern configurations is called “DERMATOGLYPHICS”. All configurations are laid down permanently from the 3rd month of the intra-uterine life and they remain unchanged throughout the life. A positive association of the dermatoglyphic features with different diseases like diabetes, mongolism, schizophrenia and leprosy have been well documented in recent years.
Methods: In the present study, 50 diabetic cases and 50 controls were selected from the SMS Hospital, Jaipur, India for the establishment of the correlation between the two groups by checking for the presence and absence of any dermatoglyphic pattern. Hand prints were taken by Indian ink methods and examined for Total Finger Ridge Count (TFRC), Absolute Finger Ridge Count (AFRC), (a-b) ridge count , distal and lateral deviation (quantitative parameter) and digital and palmer pattern frequency, lateral deviation, angles and the C- line pattern frequency (qualitative parameter).
Aim: The aim of the present was to evaluate the dermatoglyphic features and the specific variations which were to be used as diagnostic tools for an economic and early detection of diabetes.
Results and Conclusion: The TFRC, AFRC, and the (a-b) ridge count were higher in all the patients but they were statistically insignificant. The ‘atd’ angles in the hands of both sides in the patients were increased in all the groups, except in males (left side), but they differed significantly on the right side (overall, p<.01) and on the left side (female, p<.001). The ‘tad’ and the ‘tda’ angles on both sides of the hands in all the groups were lower in the patients except in males (left ‘tda’), but they differed only significantly in the females (left ‘tad’ p<.01, right ‘tda’ p<.001) and in the overall groups (right ‘tda’ p<.01) The whorl, loop and arch digital frequencies in females and in the overall groups (except loop) were increased insignificantly (p<.05). The vestige and the spiral whorl pattern were restricted to the thenar and the hypothenar areas of the male patients respectively as compared to the controls. Except an increase in the radial variety and the absence of the proximal variety, other C-line patterns were decreased in diabetics than in the controls. The results of the present research work indicate that dermatoglyphic abnormalities may be used as a diagnostic tool for predicting the possibility of the development of diabetes at a later date.