Diagnostic value of fingerprint patterns: An explorative study on beta-thalassemia diagnosis

Abstract

Rapid diagnosis of major β thalassemia along with certain preventive measures is of utmost significance. The present study aims to compare the fingerprints in Major β thalassemic patients (67) and in their parents (76 with minor thalassemia) with the normal fingerprints of control group (144). A forensic medical examiner determined fingerprint types of arch, loop, whorl and other types. Like normal individuals, loop fingerprint pattern was found to be the most common fingerprint type among thalassemic patients. However, the number of whorl fingerprints in all fingers in thalassemic patients was greater than that of normal individuals and the number of loop fingerprints was smaller (p<0.05). Arch type fingerprint pattern was less frequent in major thalassemic patients compared to minor thalassemic ones (p<0.05). The findings show that the number of whorl fingerprint patterns in thalassemic patients was greater than that of normal individuals, while the number of loop fingerprint patterns being smaller and the frequency of arch fingerprint pattern in patients with major thalassemia was lower than that of minor thalassemic patients. Therefore, one may choose fingerprint pattern as a simple, affordable and appropriate screening method to help detect the afflicted patients and prevent severe cases of thalassemia.

Dermatoglyphic Pattern on Fingertips of Thalassemia Patients: A Case Control Study in North Indian Population

“…In the present study the predominance of ulnar loops over other patterns was noted in both Thalassemia patients and controls and statistically significant difference was found over left digit V (P value .033) [ Table 10]. Similar finding was reported by study of dermatoglyphics of Thalassemics of north-western population by Bhalla et al 8 and in Iranian Thalassemics by Solhi et al [9].…”

“…However, in the present study it was found that the frequency of whorls was increased in Thalassemia patients in comparison to controls [ Table 8] but the difference was found statistically significant for digit IV of left hand (P value .010) and right hand (P value .042) only. Solhi et al [9] also reported increased whorls in all fingers in Thalassemic patients than normal individuals and the number of loop fingerprints was smaller…”

Genetic rules for the dermatoglyphics of human fingertips and their role in spouse selection: a preliminary study

“…However, the factors affecting the development of fingerprints towards a regular shape (e.g., size, thickness of subcutaneous fat, degree of stoutness, growth rate of bone) eventually result in the diversity of fingerprints. In general, it is thought that the dermatoglyphic pattern of a human fingertip (whorl, loop or arch) is controlled mainly by genetic factors (Solhi et al 2010; Cheng et al 2009; Dipierri et al 2014), and that its diversification also reflects the genetic diversity of individuals (Madan et al 2011). …”

Fingerprints: A simple method for Screening Hemophilic Patients

“…Some relationships have been reported between diseases such as Down syndrome, mental retardation, multiple sclerosis, thalassemia and types of fingerprints. [4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15] In our previous study, 16 we showed that there were differences between fingerprint types of women who were carriers of hemophilia and normal, healthy women. Therefore, in the present study we have compared the fingerprint types of the hemophilic patients and the healthy people.…”