Abstract :
Background: The dermatoglyphic patterns of dermal ridges that constitute human fingerprint are formed during the early intra?uterine life, between 7th and 21st week of gestation and mature at about seventh month of fetal development. Dermatoglyphics, once matured, remain unchanged throughout the life of an individual and are not influenced either by environmental or by age?related factors. The heart and cardiovascular system develop between 4th weeks to 4th month of intrauterine life. So, any defect in heart development by any reason may affect development of dermal ridges.
Aims and Objectives: To study and compare the quantitative parameters of palmar dermatoglyphics of normal children with those of congenital heart diseases.
Materials and Methods: It was a case control study conducted at Basaveshwara Hospital, Mahadevappa Rampure Medical College, Gulbarga and Jayadeva Institute of Cardiology, Bangalore.
Inclusion criteria: Children having congenital heart diseases (cyanotic and acyanotic) proven by echo-cardiography.
Exclusion criteria: Children with doubtful congenital heart diseases, Children with acquired heart diseases, Children with deformities of the hand.
Results: It is a Case-control study consisting 100 congenital heart disease patients and 100 controls. The atd angle in right and left hand, a-b ridge count in right and left hand of congenital heart disease children were significantly increased when compared to the normal children with p-value < 0 p=1.000>
Conclusion: Dermatoglyphics can be used as a predictive indicator about congenital cardiac diseases in population studies, easy to carry out with minimum time and expenses.
Keyword :
Dermatoglyphics, Congenital heart disease, atd angle, a-b ridge count