Dermatoglyphic patterns in patients of bronchial asthma – a quantitative study

Abstract

Background The present study was carried out to correlate the dermatoglyphic quantitative parameters in patients of bronchial asthma. Methods Dermatoglyphic prints were obtained from both hands of 57 patients of bronchial asthma and 57 first degree relatives of these patients were selected to establish familiar tendency of occurrence of the disease. 57 normal healthy individuals, without family history of bronchial asthma, were selected as control group. The groups were labelled as Group A, B and C. The quantitative parameters like a-b ridge count, total finger ridge count (TFRC) and atd angle were studied in the above mentioned three study groups. Results Higher values of a-b ridge count were found in groups A and B as compared with group C. Conclusions Higher values of a-b ridge count can be used as one of the diagnostic criterion for patients with bronchial asthma.