Comparative Study of Palmar Dermatoglyphics in Vitiligo Patients and Normal Controls

Abstract

Background: Dermatoglyphics is the study of epidermal ridges and the patterns formed by them during early intrauterine period. Epidermal ridges have been useful in diagnosing hereditary diseases.
Objective: To evaluate significant difference in dermatoglyphic patterns in vitiligo cases and controls.
Material and methods: The palmar prints of 100 vitiligo cases were taken from outpatient department of Dermatology, Gandhi Hospital, Secunderabad and 100 healthy controls from general population. Ethics committee clearance has been obtained. Informed consent was taken from the patients and controls. Dermatoglyphic prints were taken by the ink method of Cummins and Midlo. The prints were then subjected to dermatoglyphic analysis with the help of magnifying hand lens and ridge counting was done with the help of a sharp needle and the details were noted.
Results: There was an increased incidence in ulnar loops and decreased incidence of radial loops in vitiligo cases compared to controls. There was a decreased incidence of whorls in male cases and an increased incidence of whorls in female cases compared to controls. There was a decreased incidence of arches in both male and female cases compared to controls. There was a significant increase in the percentage of Simian line in right hand of female cases compared to controls. There was a significant decrease in the percentage of Sydney line in the right hand of female cases compared to controls.
Conclusion: At present there are very few studies on palmar dermatoglyphics in vitiligo. The present study was a small study consisting of 100 patients only. Hence its findings cannot be generalized. Further large case control studies are needed to establish the exact relation between vitiligo and dermatoglyphics.