Palmar dermatoglyphics and idiopathic epilepsy – a systematic review

Abstract

Dermatoglyphics is the science which deals with the study of dermal ridge configuration on the digits, palms and soles. Etymologically this term is harmonious blend of two words Derma – skin; Glyphe – carve. It gives the impression that something has been carved out of the skin. The entire human body is clothed with the skin which happens to be the largest and most important organ of the body. However, the skin on the ventral sides of the hands and the plantar sides of feet is exclusively designed and is corrugated with the ridges and configurations which are functionally useful as they help in the grasping without which the objects would easily slip away from the hands. Dermatoglyphic traits are genetically determined. Dermatoglyphic abnormalities are due to genetic or other factors that express their effect before the end of 5th month of foetal development. The permanency of finger patterns, the extreme variability from one individual to the other and easy analysis are some of the reasons for its wide application in a variety of conditions. Abnormality in the genetic configurations of parents is inherited by children and is reflected in the dermatoglyphic pattern. Hence dermatoglyphic study proves to be a very useful, easily applicable, inexpensive, indispensable tool as an indicator in the diagnosis of hereditary diseases in patients. The etiology of the epilepsies allows a classification of syndrome features into two groups – idiopathic or cryptogenic epilepsy, which has isolated primary symptoms without apparent cause and is probably hereditary and finger print configurations are inherited with an embryonic origin common to nervous system. Their attractions indicate pleiotropic effects of the genotype responsible for enaphalographic irregularity and convulsive seizures.