An evaluation of palmar flexion creases and dermatoglyphics in leprosy

The palmar flexion creases and dermatoglyphics of 150 male leprosy patients (100 paucibacillary and 50 multibacillary leprosy) were compared with 50 matched controls. Among palmar dermatoglyphics a significantly high frequency (P less than 0.001) of palmar pattern in thenar/1st interdigital area was noticed on left palm of multibacillary leprosy patients. Slight increase in frequency of distal axial triradii (t' and t'') was also seen on palms of leprosy patients. No difference in values of atd angle and C-line types were observed between patients and controls. Among palmar flexion creases a significantly high frequency of Single Radial Base Crease (SRBC) and lower frequency of Double Radial Base Crease (DRBC) was noticed on palms of leprosy patients as compared to controls (P less than 0.001). The difference mainly exist on left palm. A significantly high frequency of Simian Crease was also observed on palms of multibacillary leprosy patients (P less than 0.001) and paucibacillary leprosy patients (P less than 0.05) as compared to controls.