Dermatoglyphics in Amenorrhea - qualitative analysis

Abstract

OBJECTIVE(S): To determine whether any specific dermatoglyphic (DG) features would emerge as markers in amenorrheic subjects. METHOD(S): The study was done on 100 amenorrheic patients and 100 eumenorrheic controls with normal karyotype. Their finger tip patterns, hypothenar patterns, simian crease, Sydney line, interdigital area patterns (qualitative parameters of DGs) were analyzed. Printing method was used. The observations were correlated not only between subjects and controls but also between subjects with normal karyotype and subjects with abnormal karyotype. For statistical analysis percent frequency and chi square test were used. RESULTS: Subjects and controls have shown predominantly loop pattern. It was arch pattern which predominated for the 2nd finger, loop for the 5th finger and whorl for the 4th finger. An increase in the loop pattern in the hypothenar area was observed in subjects, the highest being in patients with abnormal karyotype. Near significant association was seen for the simian crease and Sydney line in subjects. There was significant difference between the patterns in the left 1st interdigital area between controls and subjects with normal karyotype (P=0.05) and in the left 2nd (P=0.009) and 3rd (P=0.04) interdigital areas between controls and subjects with abnormal karyotype. CONCLUSION(S): The qualitative DG parameters could be used in amenorrheic subjects for further referral for karyotyping and counseling.