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Dermatoglyphics in diabetes: a prospective diagnostic aid and early preventive tool
Author(s) -
Yohannes Seile,
Alebie Getachew,
Assefa Lemessa
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
practical diabetes
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.205
H-Index - 24
eISSN - 2047-2900
pISSN - 2047-2897
DOI - 10.1002/pdi.1923
Subject(s) - medicine , diabetes mellitus , dermatoglyphics , prospective cohort study , intensive care medicine , endocrinology , genetics , biology
50 PRACTICAL DIABETES VOL. 32 NO. 2 COPYRIGHT © 2015 JOHN WILEY & SONS Introduction Dermatoglyphics are ridged patterns on the palmar and plantar surfaces of humans (fingerprints, palm prints and foot prints), which develop approximately between the 13th and 18th weeks of gestation. They manifest complex genetic backgrounds that are currently not fully explained, but polygenic multifactorial inheritance is the most agreed upon inheritance mechanism.1,2 Among the numerous quantitative and qualitative dermatoglyphic traits, commonly assessed variables include: fingerprint patterns (whorl, loop, or arch), finger ridge counts (total [TFRC] and absolute [AFRC]), palmar angles (‘atd’, ‘adt’, and ‘dat’), palmar a–b ridge counts, and palmar axial triradius positions (t, t’, t’’). (See Figures 1 and 2.) This article refers to recent widespread research which has drawn attention to dermatoglyphic differences between individuals or groups affected by diabetes and those without diabetes; such research highlights the possibility of employing dermatoglyphic differences as diagnostic aids and preventive tools to alert those with a genetic predisposition. The strengths and weaknesses of these studies are underlined, thus serving as a guide for future research in this area.