Dermatoglyphics-Quantitative Analysis in Rheumatoid Arthritis

Abstract

Various studies have shown dermatoglyphics as a possible marker and a tool to detect Rheumatoid arthritis. In the present study, quantitative, dermatoglyphic features comprising of 'total finger ridge count', absolute finger ridge count' and 'a-b ridge count' was done on 11 males and 25 females in both hands and compared with equal number of controls. A trend towards significance was observed in right hand of male patients with respect to 'Total finger ridge count' (Patient 56.09±26.22, Control 35.36±8.9, p = 0.0873, n = 11). On the other hand, female patients showed significance for the right hand for 'Absolute finger ridge count (Patient = 99±43.75, Control 93.5±42.05, p = 0.0358, n = 22) and in the left hand for the male patients (Patient = 94.27±37.58, Control = 94.27±28.56, p=0.0358, n= 11). Significant values were found in the in left hand for female (Patient 39.2±6.85, Control 38.08±5.07, p = 0.0437, n = 11) and right hand of male patients for 'a-b ridge count' (Patient = 73.64± 20.32, Control 38.64±4.10, p = 0.0002, n = 11). The observations of the present study, has suggested, that 'a-d' ridge count could be considered as marker for male as well as female patients as the diagnostic tool in linking the rheumatoid arthritis to dermatoglyphics. Further studies are needed on a large scale to confirm.