[Dermatoglyphics of the relatives of children with congenital developmental defects]

The localization of an axial triradius and the flexor creases were studied in 173 phenotypically normal mothers and 104 fathers of congenitally malformed children. The most pronounced changes of dermatoglyphics were found in the parents of children with polygenic determined defects, less pronounced ones -- in the parents of children with multiple congenital non-chromosomal defects and with Down's syndrome. The frequency of the pathological features studied was similar both in children with polygenically determined isolated defects and in their parents. In multiple congenital defects and in Down's syndrome the abnormalities of the localization of an axial triradius and of the flexor creases were found in children more frequently than in the parents. It is suggested that the above mentioned peculiarities of parental dermatoglyphics may be useful for the genetic counselling.