Dermatoglyphs in leukaemia.

Abstract

Ridge differentiation takes place in the foetus during the third and fourth months of intrauterine life, and as a result certain disturbances of foetal growth during this period are recorded by modifications in the ridge configurations. The best example of such prenatal disturbance of ridge pattern is found in Down's syndrome in which there is retardation of growth affecting most parts of the body (Holt, 1961a). The study of the patterns of the epidermal ridges of fingers, palm, and sole can serve as an aid in the diagnosis of a number of disease conditions, particularly those caused by chromosomal aberrations, but also in others both genetically and non-genetically determined. Findings in exogenous embryopathies following maternal rubella or thalidomide intake are examples of the latter. In clinical conditions generally caused by autosomal trisomy, e.g. Down's syndrome, dermatoglyphic evidence can often be accepted as definite confirmation of a tentative clinical diagnosis. In sex chromosome aberrations, increased frequencies of certain patterns and deviations in ridge counts have been found. Several disorders due to a single abnormal gene have been reported to show dermatoglyphic features significantly varying from normal as have other conditions not definitely shown to be genetically determined. Leukaemia comes into the latter category, and Aleksandrowicz, Schiffer, and Debski (1966), Menser and Purvis-Smith (1969), Rosner (1969), and Wertelecki, Plato, and Fraumeni (1969) have reported their findings.