Study of finger print patterns in children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia

Area of Science:

• Dermatoglyphics
• Pediatric Oncology
• Forensic Medicine

Background:

• Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is a pediatric malignancy with an unknown etiology.
• Dermatoglyphics, the study of fingerprints, has been explored for potential associations with various medical conditions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate and compare fingerprint patterns between children diagnosed with ALL and a healthy control group.
• To identify any significant differences in dermatoglyphic features that could be associated with ALL.

Main Methods:

• A case-control study involving 24 children with diagnosed ALL and 24 age- and sex-matched controls.
• Analysis of fingerprints from both hands of all participants.
• Comparison of fingerprint pattern frequencies (loops, whorls) and quantitative analysis using the pattern intensity index (PII).

Main Results:

• Children with ALL exhibited a higher frequency of whorls and a lower frequency of loops compared to controls.
• Specific patterns like radial loops, double loops, central pocket loops, and tented arches were less common in children with ALL.
• The mean pattern intensity index (PII) was higher in the ALL group, though significant overlap existed between groups.

Conclusions:

• Findings suggest a potential association between specific fingerprint patterns and childhood ALL.
• Dermatoglyphic analysis may hold significance as a complementary tool in medical and pathological investigations.
• Further research is warranted to explore the diagnostic and etiological implications of these findings.