Dermatoglyphics of mothers of Malawian children with spina bifida cystica: a comparative study with female controls.

Unlabelled: Dermatoglyphic traits are formed under genetic control early in development and do not change thereafter, thus maintaining stability not affected by age.

Methodology: We determined the dermatoglyphic traits of mothers of children with spina bifida cystica and compared then with controls matched for number, age and parity, by counting and classifying palmar, plantar and digital ridge pattern configurations of arches, loops, whorls and ridges based on standard techniques.

Results: Palmar pattern types, showed absence of arches, significantly higher frequency of whorls (P > 0.05), lower total finger ridge count (TFRC) and higher Pattern Intensity Index (PII) in these mothers than in the controls (P > 0.001). However, no significant differences were observed between both groups in atd angle and a-b ridge count (P = 130, 0.70 respectively). Plantar pattern types showed loops restricted to the first two digits and absence of arches in the first digit in these mothers compared to controls in whom there were loops in the first four digits and a 100% frequency of arches. Similarly, PII was higher and Dankmeijer's Index (DI) lower in these mothers than in controls.

Conclusion: Our findings demonstrate dermatoglyphic differences between both groups that suggest that mothers presenting with these traits are more predisposed to giving birth to children with spina bifida cystica.