A Study of Palmar Dermatoglyphic Pattern in Patients of Epilepsy

Dermatoglyphic is a scientific study of epidermal ridges and their configuration on the volar skin. Dermatoglyphic variations in epilepsy cases may be suggestive of an external imprint of genetic variation. The present study has been undertaken to find out the existence of any correlation between dermatoglyphics and idiopathic epilepsy. The material consisted of 100 patients (75 males and 25 females) and 100 controls (50 males and 50 females). Dermatoglyphics were obtained by printing method. Parameters studied were a-b, a-d ridge count, palmar angle - 'atd' angle, and total finger ridge count (TFRC). There is no significant difference in 'atd' angle in epileptic patients as compared to control group. Difference in the 'atd' angle between patients and controls was also not found to be significant. In this study a statistically (P value<0.01) reduced a-b ridge count is observed in patients as compared to control. Similarly total finger ridge count is reduced in epileptic patients as compared to controls. Significant differences have not been observed from these dermatoglyphics features for concluding the genetic predisposition of epilepsy.