Pedigree analysis and dermatoglyphic features of probands with schizophrenia and their affected gender-matched...

The role of sex chromosomes in transmission of schizophrenia may be revealed by studies of phenotypic characteristics.

To explore variations in dermatoglyphic parameters between probands with schizophrenia and their respective affected gender-matched parents, with unaffected controls.

The difference of the absolute finger ridge counts (AFRC) and occurrence of identical finger patterns between the male probands and their affected fathers (n = 12) was compared with that of female probands and their affected mothers (n = 15). Similar comparisons were done between patients and unaffected child-parent pairs.

The mean AFRC difference between right middle fingers of female probands and their affected mothers was less (3.47) than the mean (10.5) of normal controls, and interestingly, it also was less than that of between male probands and their affected fathers (mean-7.45). The mean of AFRC difference between the right thumbs of female probands and their affected mothers (6.07) was lower than that of normal controls (10.2). Additionally, identical patterns were more between the respective right index and middle fingers of female probands and their affected mothers compared to normal controls. The left little fingers of male probands and their affected fathers had more identical patterns than their female controls.

The closeness of dermatoglyphic traits between female probands and their affected mothers prompts us to speculate inheritance of schizophrenic traits more through X-chromosomes.