Dermatoglyphic characteristics of digito-palmar complex in autistic boys in Serbia

Abstract

Introduction/Aim. Dermatoglyphics is a science that examines dermal patterns on volar side of both palms and soles. Since dermatoglyphs are unique for each person, by examining them a number of parameters can be determined. These parameters could help to diagnose and treat examined individulas. The aim of this study was to determine possible differences of the dermathoglyphic characteristics of digito-palmar complex (DPC) comparing the autistic boys with the healthy examinees. Methods. This study was conducted on a group of 182 boys with infantile autism, aged from 5 to 15 (average age 7.2 years) while the control group consisted of 182 healthy men from 30 to 50 years (average age 38.7 years). Within the digital scope of DPC we examined tree types of dermatoglyphic patterns on fingertips (arch, loop and whrol), as well as dermal ridge count on each finger separately (FRC - finger ridge count) and total dermal ridge count on all the ten fingers (TRC - total ridge count). Within the palmar DPC area we measured the angles between the triradius (atd, dat, adt, atb, btc, ctd), as well as dermal ridge count (RC - ridge count) between the triradius a-b, b-c and c-d. Results. The autistic boys had a significantely higher count of arches (9.17%) on fingertips of both hands when compared to the control group of examinees (4.34%), and the lower count of loops (28.40%) compared with the control group (32.42%). A higher count of arches was especially expressed on the fourth and fifth finger of both hands. Beside this characteristic, the autistic boys had a lower TRC and ab-RC as well as a wider atd angle. Conclusion. Dermatoglyphic analysis could help in diagnosing autism but only as an additional method, never as a dominant diagnostic procedure.