FINGER RIDGE PATTERNS IN PSORIASIS PATIENTS

Abstract

Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory disorder of the skin. In India the prevalence of psoriasis varies from 0.44 to 2.8%, it is twice more common in males compared to females. Beyond the physical dimensions of disease, psoriasis has an extensive emotional and psychosocial effects on patients. Dermatoglyphics is the study of epidermal ridges and grooves on palm and sole which is formed during the third or fourth month of foetal life which remain unchanged till death. The present study is an attempt to correlate the differences in fingertip patterns of psoriasis patients with controls. In this study 54 male patients and 100 controls are included from a tertiary care teaching institution in North Kerala. There were 46.12% whorls, 48.31% ulnar loops, 1.66% radial loops and 3.91% arches among the patients. Among the controls it was 42.8%, 51.2%, 2.4% and 3.6% respectively. When the fingers are individually considered thumb and second and fourth fingers have more whorls in both cases and controls. Of these the increase of whorls on the fourth finger (ring finger) on right side among patients is statistically significant. Pattern intensity index, Dankmeijer’s index and Furuhata’s index are reported. The findings of the study are suggestive of a possible trend and an association of finger print patterns with patients suffering from psoriasis.