A cross - sectional study of palmar dermatoglyphic pattern in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus at a hospital in South India

Abstract

Aim: To study dermatoglyphics of fingers and palms and to use it as a tool to screen the population for the pre-disposition to diabetes mellitus, for risk reduction and early therapy. Materials and methods - The study was conducted on 100 diabetic patients and 100 controls, age, sex matched. Quantitative parameters like finger ridge count, a-b ridge count, total finger ridge count, absolute finger ridge count, atd, adt and dat angles were studied. Qualitative parameters like finger ridge patterns were studied. Dankmeijer’s, Furuhata’s and Pattern intensity index were calculated. Results: Difference of a-b ridge counts, Absolute Finger Ridge Counts and Total Finger Ridge Counts between cases and controls was statistically not significant. Adt angle was significantly more in cases in right hand as compared to controls. Tad angle was less in cases in right hand as compared to controls. Fingertip patterns in all digits combined and in both hands combined in cases and controls showed there was a statistically significant increase in the number of loops in controls as compared to cases. Dankmeijer’s index was significantly more in male and female controls. Furuhata’s index was significantly more in male and female cases. Pattern intensity index was significantly more in female cases and controls as compared to males. Conclusion: Findings of the present study highlight on the possible dermatoglyphicmarkers. There were many supporting and contradictory findings to studies conducted by other researchers, hence there is lot of scope for further studies. Keywords: Dermatoglyphics, Type 2 diabetes mellitus, Finger prints, Dermatoglyphics, Type 2 diabetes mellitus, Finger prints.