Scientific Research and Essays Vol. 2 (10), 416-420, October 2007          
ISSN 1992-2248 © 2007 Academic Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Dermatoglyphics in idiopathic (primary) dilated cardiomyopathy in South Southern Nigeria

Oladipo G. S.*, Olotu E. J., Fawehinmi H. B, Okoh P. D and Iboroma A. D

Department of Anatomy, College of Health Sciences, University of Port- Harcourt,

Port- Harcourt, Nigeria.

*Corresponding author. E-mail: oladipogabriel@yahoo.com. Tel:  +2348056103177

Accepted 5 July, 2007

Abstract

This study was carried out to determine any dermatoglyphic pattern associated with idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy in South Southern Nigeria. Digital and palmar dermatoglyphic analysis of 49 patients with primary Idiopathic (primary) dilated cardiomyopathy (IDC) and 49 normal subjects from Kalabari ethnic group of Rivers State were carried out. The numbers of male and female subjects in each group were 27 and 22 respectively. It involved the digital patterns, ATD angle, DAT angle and ridge count. The results showed that on the right digits of males there was no significant difference (zero) in the digital patterns between the IDC and normal subject (p > 0.05) while on the left hand, IDC patients showed significantly higher whorl pattern (81.48%) on the first digit than the normal subjects (39.63%) (p < 0.05). Radial loop was observed on the second left digit of male IDC patients while no such pattern was observed on any of the digits of the normal male subjects. In females, arch pattern was observed on the second and third right digits of the IDC patients but absent in normal subjects. Also whorl pattern was observed on the 5^th right and left digits of IDC patients with percentages of 18.18 and 36.36% respectively. This was however absent in normal female subjects. On the right palm of male IDC patients the mean ATD angle (39.22^o) was significantly smaller than the mean ATD angle (41.29^o) of the normal male subjects (p < 0.05).Similarly, significant differences were observed on left palm. Amongst female subjects also there was a significant difference (p<0.05). Significant difference was observed in the mean total ridge count of the male IDC and normal subjects (369.3 and 429.1 respectively) (p < 0.05). There was however no difference between the female IDC and normal subjects. The study has shown that IDC presents characteristic dermatoglyphic features which could be used for early diagnosis of the disease.

Key words: Dermatoglyphics, Idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy.